26.07.2026 15:00
CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Gürsel Tekin claimed that the allegations regarding the CHP membership ceremony are a "conspiracy" and announced that they have filed a criminal complaint with the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against those responsible.
CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Gürsel Tekin argued that the allegations regarding the party membership ceremony were a "conspiracy" and announced that they had filed a criminal complaint with the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against those responsible. Tekin said, "I say clearly and plainly; neither Gürsel Tekin nor our friends have ever been party to any dirty business. We have not set traps for anyone, neither inside nor outside. Whoever set this trap, even if it is my brother, let the prosecutors go all the way. Those responsible for this FETÖ-like scheme must be exposed."
WERE FIGURANT MEMBERS BROUGHT IN?
Tekin made statements at a press conference held at the CHP Istanbul Provincial Headquarters regarding the party's membership ceremony held yesterday and the news that "figurant members" were brought in.
Stating that there was intense membership in CHP, Tekin said that Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu also attended the last ceremony and that hundreds of people from different political parties became members of his party.
Tekin stated that they do not have the opportunity to investigate the backgrounds of the people joining the party and expressed that only the names of participants were taken during the organizations. Noting that the number of participants was reported in advance due to the limited capacity of the hall, Tekin said, "Many names, including municipal council members from DEVA Party, İYİ Party, and Workers' Party, joined our party. I thank them; they have expanded the father's home."
"OUR YOUNG FRIENDS REQUESTED TRANSPORT SUPPORT"Claiming that they have faced various attempts since the day they took office, Tekin said, "For 10 months, we have been struggling with a kind of Bermuda Triangle here. I will explain what this is with documents."
Stating that the young people coming to the membership ceremony occasionally requested transport support, Tekin argued that no other payments were made and said, "Some of our young friends occasionally ask for transport support from us when the numbers are large. Other than that, we do not have the means to spend any money, and even if we had such an opportunity, we would not do it. Because partisanship is entirely based on volunteerism."
"I WILL REVEAL THOSE GANGS"Stating that the Mayor of Sarıyer and administrators were targeted because the hall where the membership ceremony was held was allocated, Tekin said that the municipality's halls could be rented by anyone who pays the fee.
Tekin said, "You rent a hall belonging to your own party's municipality, and the mayor is lynched for providing the hall. I will reveal who did it and those gangs shortly."
"THE DEVIL COULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT OF IT"Speaking about the allegation that figurants were hired from casting agencies to bring members to the ceremony, Tekin explained that the individuals who requested transport support before the ceremony were called one by one. Tekin said that some names were found not to be known by them and noted:
"Yesterday, they called it 'cast' or something, an agency… By God, they did something the devil couldn't even think of. We called these friends who requested transport one by one. Since the focus was Şişli, we asked our Şişli Youth Branch President, 'Do you know them?' 'Samet, you sent me 77 people, are they among them?' He said, 'Brother, we don't know them.' Naturally, there is only one thing to be done, two parties can know. One is this dirty media, the media that set the trap, and the second is the prosecutors of our state who can investigate."
"WE FILED A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT"
Announcing that they filed a criminal complaint with the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding this situation, Tekin said:
"I say clearly and plainly here; neither Gürsel Tekin nor our friends have ever been party to any dirty business. We have not set traps for anyone, neither inside nor outside. Whoever set this trap, even if it is my brother, let the prosecutors go all the way. Those responsible for this FETÖ-like scheme must be exposed."
Tekin stated that the participation in the said organization exceeded the hall capacity and said, "What does it matter if there are 70 people missing or extra in a huge hall?"
"WE HAVE REACHED THE LIMIT OF OUR COURTESY"Claiming that they encountered new allegations in their investigations, Tekin alleged that some people who came to the meeting were directed to chant negative slogans while Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was speaking. Arguing that this attempt was prevented at the last moment, Tekin said, "I say this clearly, we have reached the limit of our courtesy. Any disgrace you commit will have heavy consequences."
Claiming that they have been struggling with certain circles since the day they assumed the Istanbul Provincial Chairmanship, Tekin argued that the attitude of some media outlets changed especially when confessors came to the agenda.
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST TWO NAMES THAT HOLD WATER"ÖZGÜR KARABAT" AND "BURHANETTİN BULUT" ALLEGATION
Tekin, who said that "the chemistry of the dirty media is disturbed" whenever he talks about confessors, showed a photo of businessman Aziz İhsan Aktaş, who is being tried in a "criminal organization" case. Expressing that businessmen try to influence politics to maintain their presence in public institutions, Tekin claimed that Aktaş "bought" two CHP deputy chairmen. Tekin said, "One of them is Özgür Karabat, responsible for financial affairs, and the other is Burhanettin Bulut, who deals with media purchases."
REACTION TO MEDIA ORGANIZATIONSTekin continued his words as follows:
"I was very sorry for BirGün newspaper. The reason is this; I also come from that tradition. How did you get dirty? What is this? I mean, Aziz İhsan buys Burhanettin, and Burhanettin buys your news with his money. I also come from that tradition. No other newspaper except BirGün used to enter my home. Look at the situation you have fallen into. Again, for a long time, the center of all this media triangle, my eyes are on all of you, I say very clearly. As I entered here, I said to my friends, 'Are you ready to give your heads, we came here wearing our shrouds.' Let those who fear you be like you.
Do you know where the 2 news came from yesterday? Gazete Pencere and BirGün Newspaper."
Showing the receipts in his hand, Tekin said, "Look at the situation of BirGün and Gazete Pencere," and continued: "The first invoice is 50 million, the second is 294 million, the third is 240 million lira. Of course, we will face attacks. From the day we first arrived, I told my friends what kind of criminal partnership we are struggling with. That's why I said, 'Be ready, are you with me in the fight against this gang, both inside and outside?' My friends said, 'We are.' But this trio is very strong, they will defeat you all."
"WHY WAS NO ACTION TAKEN AGAINST TURGUT KOÇ?"Claiming that no action was taken against businessman Turgut Koç, whom he said was a CHP congress delegate, Tekin stated that Aziz İhsan Aktaş allegedly bribed some CHP executives, but no case was filed on this matter.
Tekin said, "Come and ask, if your conscience allows, make this news, make Turgut Koç news. He is Mr. Özgür Özel's buddy. Look, these are not people who just randomly took a photo with someone while passing by; they are people close enough to vacation together and buy gifts for each other. Where are you? You used to get angry when I called you dirty media."
Also calling out to Halk TV, Tekin said, "Why didn't you come? While you could sit across from me, look me in the eye, and ask your questions, why are you running away?"
Tekin also criticized the language of certain TV channels and newspapers, claiming that the debates within the CHP were directed by specific media outlets.
Claiming that two national referees, who said "Gürsel Tekin is a true son of this party," were quickly expelled from CHP membership, Tekin said he reinstated these individuals to the party and criticized reports like "A 30-year CHP member was repinned." Tekin said, "Yesterday they returned to their father's home. They were kicked out of the party in five minutes because of the structures you support. Until now, despite many slanders, I have not gone to court. But from now on, for every slander, I will take you to court. If you report the news correctly, I have no objection. Come and ask, ask the toughest questions; we will answer all of them."
"WE TAKE THE DECLARATION AS BASIS"Responding to criticisms about individuals joining the party, Tekin said that the CHP bases its membership process on the individuals' declarations.
Tekin stated, "We are not going to ask the MIT or any other institution like you do before admitting someone to the party. We take the declaration as basis. They come and become part of the CHP family."
Claiming that the allegations about the participation ceremony were the product of an organized effort, Tekin noted that this incident would be clarified through investigations by public prosecutor's offices. Denying allegations that some participants at the meeting were paid, Tekin said that all individuals who received transportation support were contacted one by one, and none confirmed these claims.
"WE ARE FIGHTING THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE"
Tekin stated that they had heard some journalists were involved in the organization, saying, "Those dirty newspapers and the judiciary will solve this setup."
Denying allegations that he brought his fellow townspeople to the participation ceremony, Tekin said, "If my fellow townspeople come, it is an honor for me. If I wanted, I could gather 10,000 people just by inviting my relatives. We are not of that mindset."
Tekin stated that despite the rain, participants came to the ceremony using their own means, and individuals from different political parties joining the CHP similarly attended the organization without any financial support. Addressing past expulsions within the party, Tekin claimed that many CHP members were unfairly removed from the party.
Tekin, saying Aziz İhsan Aktaş had a network of relationships between politics and media, said, "We are fighting a devil's triangle formed by Aziz İhsan Aktaş, his political friends, and the media order they established. We will succeed in this struggle."
Tekin noted that until now, they had not brought certain issues to public attention to prevent debates within the party from escalating, but added that they will continue to disclose what they know from now on.