Minister Yerlikaya's statement regarding the arrested Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer.

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Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer was arrested as part of a terrorism investigation. Can Aksoy, the Deputy Governor of Istanbul, has been appointed in place of Özer.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya spoke for the first time about Özer's arrest at a press conference held in Şanlıurfa. Minister Yerlikaya stated, "The guardian of the city cannot be a supporter of terrorism; there is no politics of terrorism, it can only be fought against."

"IT IS OUR DUTY TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THOSE CONNECTED TO TERRORISM"

In his statement, Yerlikaya included the following remarks:

"The situation that municipal managers will face if they are members of a terrorist organization is clear in the municipal law. Our nation ranks first among the nations that have suffered the most from terrorism in the world. Regardless of which party they belong to, mayors who distance themselves from terrorism, display a national stance, and fight against this scourge without hesitation have a place above our heads. It is our duty to hold accountable those connected to terrorism. One cannot unite with terrorist organizations. The guardian of the city cannot be a supporter of terrorism.

"THERE IS NO POLITICS OF TERRORISM"

The Republic of Turkey is a state of law, and this state has an owner, which is our esteemed nation. There is no politics of terrorism. Terrorism can only be fought against. Organizations like the PKK are the games of those who cannot digest Turkey's strength. They are traitors targeting our unity. The terrorist acts they commit reveal this. The Republic of Turkey is the state of every citizen living on this land."