26.03.2025 16:01
CHP Chairman Özgür Özel responded to President Erdoğan's statement regarding the İBB operations, where he said, "When the big turnips in the bag are spilled out, they won't even be able to look their closest ones in the face." Özel stated, "There are no new turnips or anything. If the evidence that will come to light will make me unable to look my family in the face, I accept that."
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CHP General Chairman Özgür Özel visited the cemetery at Şehzadebaşı Mosque, which was damaged during the protests in Saraçhane.
"A COUP ATTEMPT TOOK PLACE HERE"
In his statements after the visit, Özel's main points were as follows:
"A coup attempt took place here. We are witnessing the result of that coup attempt being thwarted. The only power we could rely on was the will of Istanbul. The governorship imposed a 5-day ban on gatherings. They even imposed it on our closed meetings.
We all know that those who canceled Ekrem President's diploma intended to send him away. For a week, the expectation of a trustee was evident with arrest operations and media trustee news.
We called our people against these bans. On the first night, we were 150,000, and by Sunday evening, we all witnessed a crowd of over 1.2 million. Despite all the roads leading to the square being banned and traffic being cut off, they performed a miracle; 15.5 million people in Turkey went to the polls, making Ekrem President a presidential candidate, while 1.5 million people filled the historic peninsula.
"I HAVE ACCEPTED DEATH"
Now today, after 7 days, a vote is taking place here. Ekrem President's deputy is being determined. The risk of a trustee has been eliminated. We held our last action last night. Iftar tables will be set up here. I have already accepted death and the grave at this time. That grave is entrusted to the Manisalı people whom I love more than my own life. On this blessed day, you are saying these things while arresting children aged 16 and 18 instead of leaving them alone."
Speaking about the graves that were reported to be damaged, Özel said, "We took precautions with the İBB's police in front of this mosque. The police took their own precautions. We warned citizens not to confront the police. This is Şehzade Mosque. It is one of the most important early works of Mimar Sinan. When the police quickly started using gas and chasing, some people fled from here. Two gravestones were overturned and repaired the next morning before the governor arrived. They explained this to the governor." he said.
ERDOĞAN'S "TURNIP" RESPONSE: LET IT COME OUT, I ACCEPT
In response to Erdoğan's statement, "When the big turnips in the bag are spilled out, they won't even be able to look their closest ones in the face," he replied:
"Let it come out, I accept, if it doesn't, I return it exactly. When he can no longer convince the public, he prefers to exaggerate lies and slanders. The entire opposition believes that Ekrem İmamoğlu has fallen victim to a political calculation. While everyone is curiously looking at everything, did you still hide a turnip regarding Ekrem Bey? You have evidence and you didn't present it, right? I am as sure that there is no such evidence as the reality of Mount Ağrı. The turnip he will pull out is the evidence he said 'you will see on Friday' after the Gezi events. The taste of that job has gone. You said, 'the big turnip is in the bag,' and you spilled it out. There is no new turnip. If the evidence that will come out will make me unable to look my family's face, I accept. I will count it every day."
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