09.02.2026 08:30
Keçiören Mayor Mesut Özarslan has resigned from the CHP and is rumored to be joining the AK Party. Özarslan claimed that CHP leader Özgür Özel sent him and his family messages containing insults and threats. Özel denied Özarslan's allegations and called for him to share the screenshots. Sinan Burhan, the President of the Turkish Press Federation, shared the offensive messages Özel sent to Özarslan.
The Mayor of Keçiören, Mesut Özarslan, who is claimed to be switching to the AK Party, resigned from his party, the CHP, yesterday. Özarslan cited the messages sent to him via WhatsApp by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel as justification for this decision.
"CAN A PARTY LEADER CURSE A MAYOR?"
Özarslan stated, "These messages contain insults, threats, and slanders that are incompatible with political courtesy, party ethics, public responsibility, and humanity. I ask; can a party leader curse a mayor? Can a party leader insult by targeting family values? Can a party leader threaten with words that are unacceptable? Especially in the face of messages that involve my family values and my sacred existence, my mother and even my late father; it is out of the question for me to serve in the ranks of the Republican People's Party, as long as my respect and love for the voters of the Republican People's Party remain intact," he expressed. Özarslan also announced that he would submit Özel's messages to the prosecutor's office.
"THERE IS ANGER AND INSULT IN POLITICS"
Özgür Özel, in a statement to reporters, said, "I did not involve his parents, but there is anger and insult in politics." Özel, who called for Özarslan to share a screenshot to prove otherwise, said, "He is lying. They called you a thief, I called you and asked. You said, 'There is no such thing, I have no corruption or theft, they are slandering.' I believed you, now you are going to those who call you a thief," I said. "What you are doing will embarrass the mother who gave birth to you, your children, and even your future grandchildren," I said. "If I ever get something in my hands, we will see each other, I will never forgive you," I said.
ÖZGÜR ÖZEL'S MESSAGES HAVE EMERGED
Following these statements, the messages Özel sent to Özarslan were shared by Sinan Burhan, the President of the Turkey Press Federation and the Editor-in-Chief of the Millet News Agency. The messages in the screenshots are as follows:
"Dog"
"F**k off"
"Low dog, f**k off"
"Your place is next to them"
"Sycophant"
"Character-less b**ch"
"You are where you deserve to be, you are in the place that suits you"