19.08.2026 16:30
The police statement of Seydi Ahmet Keles, former CHP Oğuzeli District Chairman, who stabbed and wounded New Party Gaziantep Deputy Melih Meriç in the abdomen and was arrested, has emerged. Keles, who is said to have moved to the New Party along with Özgür Özel, stated that the incident was rooted in the tension experienced during the appointment process he awaited for the Oğuzeli district chairmanship.
The police statement of Seydi Ahmet Keleş, the former CHP Oğuzeli District Chairman, who was arrested in the investigation into the stabbing of New Party Gaziantep Deputy Melih Meriç, has been revealed.
SURVIVED LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION
In the incident that occurred on August 18, 2026, in the İbni Sina neighborhood of Şahinbey district, Meriç was seriously injured after being stabbed in the abdomen. The deputy, who was taken to the hospital, was admitted to the intensive care unit after surgery. It was learned that the New Party deputy survived the life-threatening condition.
Seydi Ahmet Keleş, who was apprehended within the scope of the investigation, admitted to using the knife but argued that he had no intent to kill and acted in self-defense.
SWITCHED FROM CHP TO THE NEW PARTY
In his statement, Keleş said he was the CHP Oğuzeli District Chairman until about a month ago. According to his account, after the district administration was dissolved, Keleş resigned from CHP membership and later joined the New Party.
Keleş stated that former CHP Gaziantep Deputy Melih Meriç had also joined the New Party about 15 days before him, and explained that he met with Meriç at a tea house in Oğuzeli.
According to Keleş, during this meeting, Meriç told him, "You are an elected person. I also switched, you should come to the New Party too. Continue with us as the district chairman; I will have your appointment brought." However, the district chairmanship appointment Keleş expected never materialized.
THE POSITION KELEŞ EXPECTED WENT TO SOMEONE ELSE
According to Keleş's account, the political tension began at this point. Keleş, who said he heard that another person would be appointed as district chairman while he was waiting to be appointed, stated that he then called Melih Meriç.
Keleş claimed that Meriç told him, "I will handle your business, don't worry, wait," and said he later also had a phone conversation with the New Party Gaziantep Provincial Chairman.
Keleş explained that he told the provincial chairman that "a person from the AK Party would be appointed" to Oğuzeli, and that the conversation turned into an argument.
"HOW DARE YOU TALK LIKE THAT TO THE PROVINCIAL CHAIRMAN I APPOINTED?"
One of the most striking parts of the statement was about the period immediately after this phone call. Keleş claimed that approximately 5-10 minutes after his argument with the provincial chairman, Melih Meriç called him. According to Keleş's testimony, Meriç reacted to his conversation with the provincial chairman, swore at him heavily, and asked where he was.
Keleş alleged that Meriç told him, "How dare you talk like that to the provincial chairman I appointed, how dare you get into an argument with him, where are you, I will come to you." The next day, it was stated that another person was appointed as the New Party Oğuzeli District Chairman in place of Keleş.
THEY MADE UP AFTER THE FIGHT
According to Keleş's statement, the crisis between the parties temporarily subsided afterward. Keleş said Melih Meriç called him again and told him, "I have your back; I will definitely give you a role within the party."
Keleş also said that a few days later, he sent a message to Meriç via WhatsApp saying, "My deputy, when you are available, come, let's have some liver kebab, I kiss your hands." According to Keleş's account, after this message, another warm conversation took place between the two. However, the temporary peace did not last long.
THAT PHONE CALL ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT: SEND YOUR LOCATION, I'M COMING
According to Keleş's statement, the fuse for the bloody incident was re-ignited on August 18. Keleş, who openly said he started drinking alcohol alone at his home around 14:00, recounted that Melih Meriç called him about 15-20 minutes before the incident.
According to Keleş's claim, Meriç swore at him heavily on the phone and said, "What are you saying behind my back? Send your location, I'm coming." Keleş admitted that he first said he was in Oğuzeli, then stated he was at home and sent his location from his phone.
He stated that about 5-6 minutes later, Meriç called again and said, "Come down, I'm in front of the complex."
HE PUT THE KNIFE IN HIS POCKET AT HOME
Keleş claimed he was frightened because he thought Meriç had a bodyguard and carried a weapon, and he openly explained that before going downstairs, he put the "yellow-handled fruit knife" found at home into his back pocket. He then went down to the front of the complex. According to Keleş's account, Melih Meriç was alone by his car; he had neither a driver nor a bodyguard with him.
"I HAVE 4 THOUSAND MEN WORKING FOR ME"
Keleş claimed that the argument started again when he approached Meriç. Keleş argued that Meriç swore at him and said, "I will destroy you," and further alleged that the deputy threatened him by saying, "I have 4 thousand men working for me; I will destroy you."
Keleş, who claimed that Meriç then punched him, said he either fell to the ground or staggered backward from the blow.
HE TOOK OUT THE KNIFE: MY DEPUTY, GET OUT OF HERE
Keleş admitted that after falling to the ground, he took out the fruit knife from his pants. Keleş recounted telling Meriç, "My deputy, get out of here." Despite this, he claimed the deputy came at him and punched him a second time.
Keleş also alleged that he asked for help from the citizens around him, shouting, "Look, this person is hitting me, he's swearing at me, he won't leave; come and send him away." According to Keleş's defense, Meriç then came at him again.
HE CONFESSED TO SWINGING THE KNIFE
Keleş said he saw Meriç reach for his waist, but did not see or know whether he had a weapon on him. Nevertheless, he admitted to swinging the knife toward Meriç. In his statement, Keleş said, "I swung the knife toward him with the intent to protect myself."
Keleş argued that he did not initially realize whether the knife had hit its target, but a few seconds later, when he saw the blood stains on Meriç's shirt, he realized he had been injured.
"CALL AN AMBULANCE, TAKE MY DEPUTY TO THE HOSPITAL"
Keleş said that after the injury, he moved a few steps away from Meriç, and saw that the deputy continued walking toward him for a while, then sat down on the edge of the sidewalk.
He said he told those around, "For God's sake, call an ambulance from somewhere, take my deputy to the hospital."
Keleş, who claimed that he shouted, then left the scene. However, Keleş's subsequent actions were also found striking in terms of the investigation.
FLED THE SCENE, THREW AWAY THE KNIFE
Keleş stated that at the vehicle entrance of the complex, he opened the rear door of a car he did not recognize and asked the driver to take him about 200 meters further.
Saying that he then walked towards the City Hospital, Keleş admitted that he threw the knife he used in the incident somewhere around the hospital.
However, he claimed that he did not remember exactly where he threw the knife. Then, Keleş got into a commercial taxi and went towards Oğuzeli.
CALLED HIS SON, THEN WENT INTO THE FIELDS
After getting off the taxi, Keleş said he called his son Hakan Keleş and asked him to pick him up. Stating that his son came on a motorcycle, Keleş reported that his son told him, 'Dad, I heard about the incident, let's go to the police station.'
However, according to his statement, Keleş did not accept this offer. Stating that he told his son to go away, the suspect then described walking among the fields for about half an hour.
Keleş also said that during this time he might have dropped or thrown away his phone, and that he did not know where it was.
WAITED IN THE FIELD FOR 3-4 HOURS, THEN SURRENDERED
Seydi Ahmet Keleş stated that he sat in a field and waited for about 3-4 hours, then decided to go to the police station. Saying that after walking for about 20-30 more minutes, he went to the police station, Keleş said he told the police about the incident there.
Keleş concluded his statement with the words, 'I am very sorry about this situation. I did not attempt to kill anyone. My aim was to protect myself. If I had wanted to kill, the situation would have been different.'
THE MOMENT OF THE INCIDENT ON CAMERA
At the end of his statement, Keleş requested that the security cameras around the complex where the incident occurred and any footage that citizens might have taken be examined.
The moment of the incident was recorded second by second by the surrounding security camera.