15.12.2025 09:35
The leader of the CHP, Özgür Özel, made a statement at Manisa City Hospital following the death of Gülşah Durbay, the Mayor of Manisa Şehzadeler. Speaking with tears in his eyes, Özel said, "If I have to experience such great pain again, let something happen to me. May God not take another of our children. I have no strength left to endure or be patient."
After the death of Manisa Şehzadeler Mayor Gülşah Durbay, who was receiving treatment at Manisa City Hospital in the evening hours, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel visited Durbay's family at the hospital.
During the visit, Özel was accompanied by CHP Deputy Chairpersons Gökçe Gökçen and Ulaş Karasu, CHP Manisa Members of Parliament Bekir Başevirgen and Ahmet Vehbi Bakırlıoğlu, CHP İzmir Member of Parliament Ednan Arslan, CHP Malatya Member of Parliament Veli Ağbaba, Manisa Metropolitan Mayor Besim Dutlulu, CHP Manisa Provincial Chair İlksen Özalper, and district mayors.
HE COULDN'T HOLD BACK HIS TEARS
After the visit, Özgür Özel made a statement to the press. Unable to hold back his tears, Özel expressed that they had experienced their second loss in six months, saying, "The Durbay family is being tested today with the loss of a child. The CHP family is being tested with the loss of two children in six months. I am being tested with the loss of my brother, and now with the loss of a child. How can one endure... It is really difficult. This is the district where I was born. Gülşah Durbay was a child of ours who did politics together with us, carrying the flag of our party. A dream that she could not even imagine came true; she became the mayor of this district. Just like Ferdi becoming the Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality of this city. Ferdi's story lasted 2 years, Gülşah's story lasted 2.5 years," he said.
"I HAVE NO STRENGTH LEFT TO ENDURE OR BE PATIENT"
Continuing his speech with tears, Özel said:
"What kind of pain is this, what kind of test... I don't know how we will endure. My condolences to all of Manisa, to the family, to our party. We have lost such a bright, young person... I feel like I have lost my own child. I am very sad. I don't know what will happen next. If I have to experience such great pain again, let something happen to me. May God not take another child from us. I have no strength left to endure or be patient. What sins do we have, what burdens do we carry, I don't know. If such great pain is to be experienced again, let it be through me. If it is to happen, let it take my life, but not the life of someone I love. May we all find peace."