Slow: If the goal is to hinder the mayors from the CHP, I am willing to resign today.

09.07.2025 07:30

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş reacted to the operations targeting CHP municipalities, stating, "If the real aim is just to obstruct CHP mayors and prevent them from working, I am willing to resign today. Just don't slander us. Just don't find a single slanderer to play with our honor, dignity, and integrity."

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Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş participated in the Sözcü TV broadcast just hours before the start of the blackout penalty that Sözcü TV received for 10 days.

Yavaş stated, "Unfortunately, another injustice is being added today. Mayor Zeydan has been arrested. We are truly very sad, and we wish him a speedy recovery. From what we hear in the media, it is extremely sad that he is being arrested in this way for an incident that happened 10 years ago and based solely on the words of an accuser. Why would a person who has not changed the evidence for 10 years and has no flight risk be arrested? Let them judge him, and he can defend himself comfortably. If he is convicted, everyone is willing to accept their punishment. We do not have immunity. There is a procedure. As mayors, we are public officials, and when any crime is alleged against us, inspectors come to investigate, we use our legal rights, and we make our defense. They make one of two decisions: either there is a need for an investigation or there is not. All of these are being overlooked. The Court of Accounts comes, and if there is public damage, they refer it to the prosecutor's office," he expressed.

"DON'T PLAY WITH OUR HONOR AND DIGNITY"

Yavaş noted, "There is no remedy for detention. Secondly, these injustices, what has been done to our mayors recently, I want to express this. If the real aim is just to hinder CHP mayors and not let them work, I am willing to resign today. Just don’t slander. Just don’t find an accuser and play with our honor, dignity, and integrity. There is no point in being a mayor like this. These mayors cannot be arrested so easily. Almost all of them are people who have been elected with large votes because they have a reputation. For us, there is no difference between a shoebox and a baklava box. A thief is a thief. A thief does not have a party. It is a disgrace to the party. We cannot stand behind it. It is extremely wrong to slander all mayors because of one person. I am really very sad today. Last week, while trying to defend the rights of our detained friends together with Mayor Zeydan, today unfortunately, Mayor Zeydan has been arrested. I am extremely sad. I want justice to be served as soon as possible.

"WE ARE NEVER AFRAID"

Today, RTÜK, TRT, they all broadcast with our money, they perform their duties with our salaries. They must treat everyone equally and fairly. That is why the state exists. The suppression against Sözcü TV has been carried out with the intention of silencing it. The press is an institution that conducts more oversight than Parliament and the courts. It monitors us, it monitors the managers. When you shut down the press, you are not only obstructing freedom of expression but also hindering our right to receive news; we are accountable to the public through you. The public's right to receive news is being eliminated. I am very sad. We are with you. These days will pass. We are never afraid."