04.09.2026 13:51
Lawyer Ece Guner, who was arrested along with Haluk Levent in the investigation into the AHBAP Association, announced that she is leaving politics and resigned from her duties as Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Chair Advisor and Presidential Candidate Office Coordinator.
Lawyer Ece Güner, who was arrested on July 16 as part of the investigation into the AHBAP Association, announced through a written statement that she is leaving politics. Güner, who resigned from her positions as Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality President Advisor and Presidential Candidate Office Coordinator, categorically denied the allegations against her and claimed she was exploited by Haluk Levent.
"I AM 1000 PERCENT INNOCENT"
Ece Güner, one of the 14 individuals arrested along with Haluk Levent in the scope of the investigation, stated that she did not serve as a lawyer for the AHBAP Association or Levent, and that their relationship was solely based on a personal debt. Rejecting the accusations, Güner expressed the situation with the following words:
"I have absolutely no connection to the Haluk Levent/AHBAP case. I am not 100 percent, but 1000 percent innocent. Beyond being innocent, I am a victim."
"I WAS DECEIVED TOO, I GAVE MY HOUSE MONEY"
Güner, who claimed she was victimized by Haluk Levent, emphasized that these matters should not be viewed through a fan's perspective and recounted the process with these words:
"My goodwill was exploited by Haluk Levent, who was seen as a 'hero' in society at that time. And during a very vulnerable period of my life. I was also deceived. The money I lent to Haluk Levent was the money I had set aside to buy the house I would live in. Despite this, he persistently asked for this money from me. To convince me to give the loan, he told many stories that later turned out to be lies."
Stating that she has taken her share of lessons from what happened, Güner said, "I am sharing what I have taken as lessons for myself," emphasizing that she has committed no crime.
"I HAVE DECIDED TO LEAVE POLITICS"
Güner, a graduate of Paris Sorbonne University who established her own law firm in 1996 and worked in the field of international investments, entered politics within the ranks of the İYİ Party and became a parliamentary candidate in 2023. Having been an advisor to Ekrem İmamoğlu at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality since August 2024, Güner stated that both her health issues and the detention process she experienced had exhausted her, announcing her resignation with the following words:
"Both my health problems and this recent process I experienced have tired me greatly. They also made me question many things. And at this stage, I have decided to leave politics. I am requesting my discharge from my duties as IBB President Advisor and at the Presidential Candidate Office; I am resigning."
Concluding her statement with an emphasis on her innocence, Güner said, "My head is held high, my forehead is clear; I have never committed a crime in my life, I have never strayed even a bit from honesty, and I never will." and ended the process with the words, "I pray for justice."