03.08.2026 18:22
New Party Chairman Özgür Özel stated, 'I am ashamed that it is understood as if we served it' regarding the ablution images that became a hot topic on social media. Also touching on election security and the delegate crisis at the YSK, Özel claimed that while DEM Party and MHP supported their party's YSK representative, AK Party and CHP opposed it together.
The new party leader Özgür Özel was a guest on journalist Fatih Altaylı's program. Özel, who attended the program with the New Party badge; while expressing his sadness regarding the ablution images that were on the social media agenda, he also made striking statements about the representative crisis at the Supreme Election Council (YSK).
"I AM ASHAMED OF THIS"
Referring to the ablution images that were widely discussed on social media recently, Özgür Özel stated that the incident was filmed by a citizen in Kastamonu a month and 20 days ago. Reacting to the images being presented as if they were staged, Özel said: "A citizen in Kastamonu filmed it and shared it that day, writing 'May Allah accept it, my leader.' Nearly a month and 20 days later, it somehow entered circulation and became agenda. They think as if we shared it, I am ashamed of this, I am saddened. It's not something plausible, I mean. 'Let me perform ablution so you can film' or something, it's not plausible."
"I NEVER MISS THE EID PRAYER"
Also responding to criticisms made over his religious sensitivities, Özel said, "Let them ask the imam of Hatuniye Mosque, the imam of Hacerler Mosque, and their congregation. I do not perform daily prayers, but I do perform Friday prayers. I never miss the Eid prayer. It has been this way for years. But I was saddened that it was understood as if we had filmed ourselves performing ablution and served it."
"WE ACHIEVED THIS RIGHT BY FORMING A GROUP"
Also touching on the issue of election security, Özel claimed that cooperation with the opposition was possible, but the only side not to be hopeful about in this regard was the CHP. Explaining for the first time an incident in the processes of appointing representatives to the YSK, Özel continued his words: "In the Supreme Election Council, just as the four parties with the highest votes can have representatives, according to the law, parties with groups in Parliament can also have representatives. We achieved this right by forming a group. They had immediately dismissed CHP's highly competent Mr. Hadimi, who had served for 15 years, from there. We reappointed him there."
"WHY ARE THE AK PARTY AND CHP OPPOSING?"
Özel claimed that AK Party and CHP took a common stance during the appointment of the representative and noted: "When he goes, the AK Party opposes; 'No, he cannot come, it won't happen' and so on. Against the AK Party's opposition, the DEM Party defends that we can have a representative at the YSK, the MHP defends it, all parties defend it. The AK Party and one CHP oppose it. While DEM and MHP jointly support the opposition bringing a representative, why do the AK Party and CHP oppose it?"