06.08.2026 23:21
The reflection of the reports prepared regarding New Party Chairman Özgür Özel and New Party Malatya Deputy Veli Ağbaba to the public in the Turkish Grand National Assembly General Assembly became a topic of debate among political parties. Representatives of the ruling and opposition parties expressed a common opinion that the principle of confidentiality of the investigation should be adhered to.
The General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (GNAT) convened under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Tekin Bingöl.
During the General Assembly session, the reports (fezlekes) prepared concerning New Party Chairman Özgür Özel and New Party Malatya Deputy Veli Ağbaba were brought to the agenda, and the deputy chairmen of the political party groups made assessments on the matter.
Deputy Speaker Bingöl stated that, during yesterday's session, as a result of the evaluations made with the deputy chairmen of the political party groups regarding the said agenda item, a joint decision was reached to also share the matter with GNAT Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş. Bingöl, who noted that he had a telephone conversation with Speaker of the Parliament Kurtulmuş, stated that he discussed the issue regarding the reports with him in detail and gave the group deputy chairmen two minutes each from their seats regarding the agenda of the reports.
NEW PATH GROUP: THE PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE HAS BEEN UNDERMINED New Path Group Deputy Chairman Selçuk Özdağ said that in the past, reports prepared about deputies were left until the end of the term, but this practice was later changed. Özdağ stated that deputies were "detained" during this process, arguing that this harms the rule of law characteristic of the Republic of Türkiye.
Özdağ, stating that the reports prepared concerning Özgür Özel and Veli Ağbaba were sent confidentially, said that the reports could only be examined upon petition and were not delivered to the relevant deputies. Reacting to the reports being reflected in the public domain, Özdağ said, "The procedures carried out here regarding Veli Ağbaba and Özgür Özel are not correct. Whoever disclosed this, whether it was the Ministry of Justice or the officials or bureaucrats of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, action should be taken against them."
Arguing that Özel and Ağbaba were declared guilty in advance due to the reports, Özdağ said, "I disapprove of and condemn the fact that the presumption of innocence has also been undermined. The axe turns, the handle turns, and one day the account will also turn; don't forget this. Türkiye will be a state of law. We stand by Özgür Özel and Veli Ağbaba at this point; we recognize no other will over the will of the Parliament, and we also believe in the presumption of innocence."
Selçuk Özdağ İYİ PARTY: THEY ARE SERVED TO THE PUBLIC BEFORE EVEN REACHING THE PARLIAMENT İYİ Party Group Deputy Chairman Turhan Çömez stated that in democratic countries, deputies have legislative irresponsibility and parliamentary immunity, noting that this is a right granted to deputies serving on behalf of the nation.
Çömez, stating that there are over a thousand reports in the Parliament, predominantly belonging to opposition deputies, also noted that many reports have been prepared against him as well. Stating that he faced reports because he brought up corruption allegations against ministers and made statements on various issues, Çömez said, "If you do these things, you cannot make democracy functional in this country with its institutions and rules."
Çömez, stating that the reports are delivered to the Parliament in secrecy and handed over only to their addressees, noted that the reports concerning Özgür Özel and Veli Ağbaba were reflected in the public domain before reaching the Parliament. Turhan Çömez evaluated, "This is extremely wrong. This is a blow to democracy, a blow to the functioning of the institutions and rules of democracy."
Çömez called on the Speaker of the GNAT and the Minister of Justice, requesting that those responsible for the disclosure of the reports be identified. Çömez said, "It is unacceptable for reports that have not even reached the Parliament to be reflected to the public and for people's reputations to be executed by means of execution squads in the media."
Turhan Çömez MHP: CONFIDENTIALITY IS ESSENTIAL IN INVESTIGATIONS MHP Group Deputy Chairman Filiz Kılıç also stated that there are currently reports belonging to many deputies in the GNAT, and that this is not a situation unique to this year. Stating that, according to the Code of Criminal Procedure, confidentiality is essential in investigations, Kılıç said, "As the Nationalist Movement Party Group, we believe that this confidentiality must be protected, and we have stated this on numerous occasions."
Filiz Kılıç DEM PARTY: THEY ARE TRYING TO SHAPE POLITICS WITH REPORTS DEM Party Group Deputy Chairman Sezai Temelli argued that the reports are prepared not to enforce the law, but to target the Parliament. Stating that the process that began with the lifting of immunities has continued since 2016, Temelli noted that he believes this approach will continue. Stating that the reports are unconstitutional and that parliamentary immunity exists, Temelli said, "This method used by prosecutors is, in fact, nothing other than shaping politics and bypassing the law."
Emphasizing that deputies are representatives of the people, Temelli expressed that the reports mean interference in politics. Claiming that by serving the reports to the public, prejudice is created against individuals and "reputation assassinations" are carried out through social media, Temelli said, "We know this best. As a result of this understanding that has been maintained since 2016, look, our friends are still in prison. Selahattin Demirtaş is in prison, Figen Yüksekdağ is in prison, Can Atalay is in prison. Why? Are they guilty? No, they are not. This is entirely a unlawfulness carried out against politics as a result of this mentality; this must be put to an end as soon as possible."
Sezai Temelli NEW PARTY: REPORTS ARE USED AS A TOOL OF THREAT AGAINST DEPUTIES New Party Group Deputy Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır reminded that the legislative immunity granted to deputies is regulated in the Constitution so that they can freely fulfill their duties, stating that today there are thousands of reports concerning opposition deputies.
Saying, "These reports are used as a threat against deputies in the press and in public opinion," Başarır stated that the judicial process regarding reports prepared about deputies can also be carried out after their term of office ends.
Ali Mahir Başarır, saying that lifting deputy immunity except in cases of flagrante delicto and very serious crimes, or disclosing reports that have not yet reached the Parliament, is "very grave," continued as follows: "'Today we are in power, we have the majority'."{"text":"There may be no tomorrow. So, tomorrow as well, to defend your rights and legal standing, and to ensure you can speak on that podium without being under threat, we must all take a stance on this matter. The Constitution and the boundaries drawn for us are very important; we must protect them together. Of course, a member of parliament does not have the freedom to commit crimes, but I look, I discuss some official reports, and in all parties there are similar reports. We cannot say 'Let them come, lift their immunity' because our penal code and the Constitution have made a very good arrangement; the statute of limitations is suspended. In many crimes it does not stop; even after twenty-five years, the statute of limitations applies, but there is no such thing for a member of parliament. Therefore, let us come together here and collectively understand our law and how sacred a duty we are performing, and let us all take a stance on this matter."
Ali Mahir Başarır CHP: WE DO NOT FIND EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTION APPROPRIATE CHP Deputy Group Chairman Sevda Erdan Kılıç stated that she learned from the press about a report prepared about her a few months ago and struggled for days to find out what the issue was. Criticizing the leaking of reports whose contents are not yet known and have not reached the Parliament, Kılıç said, "As the Republican People's Party Group, we do not find it appropriate for any member of parliament, especially a party leader, to be extrajudicially executed."
Kılıç, noting that their party's approach to immunity is clearly stated in its bylaws and programs, expressed that members of parliament speak on behalf of the nation in the Parliament. Kılıç stated that everyone should be accountable for their actions, but they do not find it right for reports to be disclosed and for this to turn into an "extrajudicial execution."
Sevda Erdan Kılıç AK PARTY: ADHERENCE TO THE PRINCIPLE OF CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE INVESTIGATION IS OUR COMMON WISH AK Party Deputy Group Chairman Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu stated that no one is privileged before the laws of the Republic of Turkey and that everyone must face the legal consequences of their crimes. Expressing that he approaches the issue from a general framework, Yenişehirlioğlu noted that Article 157 of the Code of Criminal Procedure regulates the confidentiality of the investigation, saying, "Pursuant to Article 157, it means that procedural actions during the investigation phase are carried out confidentially, provided that the rights of defense are not harmed and the exceptions in the law are reserved. This fundamental principle aims to protect the collection of evidence and the presumption of innocence; adherence to it is our common wish."
Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu DEPUTY SPEAKER BİNGÖL: ALL GROUPS UNITED ON THE PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Tekin Bingöl, noting that the group deputy chairmen emphasized the importance of the confidentiality of investigations and the presumption of innocence in their statements, said, "These are very valuable, and all groups have come together on this issue."
Expressing that the common approach put forward by the Turkish Grand National Assembly should also be observed in the upcoming process, Bingöl stated, "I hope that it is very important that this common stance of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on this issue is taken into consideration at every stage from now on and acted upon accordingly. Because it is our primary duty to protect the rights and legal interests of all members of parliament in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, since members of parliament engage in politics on behalf of the people, express opinions on many issues, oppose, criticize, and make suggestions. There is a matter called 'podium immunity,' but reports are even sent to colleagues speaking at the podium; this is an outrageous thing. In that regard, we need to continue this solidarity and this culture by spreading it so that this comes to an end."
Also touching upon the process of reports reaching the Parliament, Bingöl stated that the files are sent from the prosecutor's office to the Ministry of Justice and then to the Turkish Grand National Assembly, and noted that any disclosure could have occurred before reaching the Parliament. Bingöl stated that TBMM bureaucrats should not be associated with this process, saying, "I also want to state that our colleagues who carry out this duty meticulously in the Turkish Grand National Assembly are outside of this matter."
}