Özgür Özel: We say yes to a Turkey without terrorism, and we are waiting for the weapons to be laid down.

10.05.2025 14:10

In the rally titled 'Standing Up for the Will of the Nation' held in Van, CHP leader Özel stated that they said "yes" to a "terror-free Turkey" and emphasized that the PKK should announce its decision to lay down arms as soon as possible. Özel said, "Those who deny the Kurdish issue have never existed."

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CHP held a rally in Van titled "Standing up for the will of the people" following the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. The Van rally was the fifth rally after those held in Samsun, Yozgat, Mersin, and Konya.

BANNERS CAUGHT ATTENTION

Citizens gathered in the square in Van welcomed Özel with banners reading, "What is the trustee doing in Van?", "Özgür Özel is our honor", "Either the will of the people or the shadow of the palace", "Democracy cannot be imprisoned", "Ahmet Özer is not alone".

"WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE STEPS TAKEN"

Özel, who made evaluations about the process initiated by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli and continuing until the PKK's congress, stated, "This new process has been progressing for a while. We have never been among those who deny the Kurdish issue. From the very beginning, we have advocated that it should be resolved sincerely, transparently, on the parliamentary floor, with the common consent of the victims and the families of martyrs. We established our own commission in the CHP. We supported every sincere step taken towards ending terrorism and bringing peace that is not aimed at bargaining; we will continue to support them from now on," he said.

"WE SUPPORT PKK TO LAY DOWN ARMS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE..."

Özel expressed that they said "yes" to the government's "Terror-free Turkey" process, stating, "What do we say to a Terror-free Turkey? We advocate for the cessation of terrorism, we say yes to a terror-free Turkey. We support the PKK to lay down arms as soon as possible. We want the news to come as soon as possible. Let's take legal steps to correct all kinds of wrong and deficient practices where Kurds do not feel equal. We expect the trustee application to end and for political prisoners to be freed. We have a promise to President Sırrı; sooner or later, we will be in power, and we will ensure the brotherhood of Turks and Kurds," he said.

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İMAMOĞLU'S LETTER WAS READ

CHP Van Provincial Chairman Seracettin Bedirhanoğlu read the message of IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is detained in Marmara Prison in Silivri. Highlights from İmamoğlu's message are as follows: "I thank all of you, young and old, men and women, for your courage in filling the square. We will get rid of the dark days; I believe in this. Those who try to suppress this will know that they will not succeed. We know what they have done to Van. We know why they appointed a trustee to Van. It won't be long; the chains will be broken. Our branches will flourish. The fate of Istanbul is the same as the fate of Van.

There is something they do not know: We embarked on this path with our commitment to the country and the nation. We set out to ensure that no one eats the rights of the nation as those who do not eat rights. As long as I am in prison, I am working for the future of Turkey. We do not see Van as a border city. Van is not only the center of the East; it is the pearl of the future. We will make Van one of Turkey's trade centers in the future. We will make the people of Van smile. Do not be sad at all, keep hope alive. We will reach brighter days. We will build a free and fair Turkey. Until that day, I entrust you all to God."