14.03.2025 17:20
The statement of Şükrü Genç, the former mayor of Sarıyer, who was detained on charges of providing financial support to a terrorist organization in Istanbul, has emerged. Rejecting the allegations, Genç said, "A tradesman came to me and said, 'Your name has been placed on the organization's death list. Be careful.' The governor's office assigned a protection officer to me. I was also a target of the organization."
The investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Terror Crimes Investigation Bureau revealed that a needs committee was established to meet the needs of the so-called institutions within the terrorist organization DHKP/C and to provide financial support to the organization, and it was determined that the far-left armed terrorist organization was funded through this means. In the investigation carried out on the charges of providing financial support to DHKP/C between 2014-2016 and funding the organization through another company, 34 suspects were detained and after the completion of their procedures at the police station, they were referred to the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan.
REQUEST FOR ARREST
The prosecutorial procedures for the 34 suspects have been completed. Among them, 26 suspects, including Şükrü Genç and Melih Morsünbül, were referred to the Duty Magistrate Court with a request for arrest. The statement of Şükrü Genç, the former Mayor of Sarıyer, who was referred to the courthouse, also emerged.
"I DID NOT PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION"
Genç, who gave a statement of approximately 30 pages, was asked whether he provided any financial support to the DHKP-C armed terrorist organization. Rejecting the allegations, Şükrü Genç stated, "I did not provide financial support to the terrorist organization. It was reported to us by state institutions that there was a building in the neighborhood, formerly known as Armutlu and now called Baltalimanı, which was said to be built on behalf of the organization and that there was a demolition decision regarding this building. Following this, a date was set among the institutions, including the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) and the Sarıyer Municipality, which I was presiding over at that time, along with the security forces, for the demolition of the building constructed on behalf of the organization, and the security forces took the necessary precautions at the specified place and date. On the day of the demolition, İBB vehicles did not participate in the demolition, claiming they were broken down, and did not send any vehicles. The demolition of the building belonging to the organization in the specified neighborhood was carried out with vehicles belonging to the Sarıyer District Municipality, which I presided over, under the escort of the security forces. My residence address is also close to the building that was demolished," he said.
"THEY TOLD ME 'YOUR NAME IS ON THE ORGANIZATION'S DEATH LIST'"
In his statement, Genç, who noted that he was always in close contact with the public due to being the mayor, said, "After the demolition, on a day I do not remember exactly, while I was visiting tradesmen, a tradesman came to me and said, referring to the organization regarding a building we demolished, 'Your name has been put on the organization's death list. Be careful.'"
"THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ASSIGNED A PROTECTION POLICE TO ME"
Genç stated in his testimony that he conveyed this information to the Sarıyer District Police Department at that time, saying, "In a conversation we had, the District Police Chief told me that my house was being monitored by the organization and that they would take precautions around my residence. After these incidents, a protection police was assigned to me by the Istanbul Governor's Office."
"I WAS A TARGET OF THIS ORGANIZATION"
Regarding the allegations of transferring money to the organization, Genç stated, "I absolutely did not give any money to any organization or organization member, neither in my name nor in the name of the municipality. Such money was definitely not paid. These allegations are unfounded. Moreover, I was a target of this organization. For this reason, I was under state protection," he said.
"I DID NOT PROVIDE ANY VEHICLE TO ANY ORGANIZATION"
Şükrü Genç was also asked whether he allocated vehicles from the municipality to the organizations organized by the DHKP-C terrorist organization. Genç responded to this question, saying, "During my tenure as mayor, I did not provide any vehicle to any organization or illegal organization."
"I AM A TURKISH CITIZEN WHO LOVES MY COUNTRY AND MY PEOPLE"
At the end of his statement, Şükrü Genç said, "I believe that I have fulfilled my approximately 15 years of mayoral duties with dignity. It is out of the question for me to assist an organization of which I am a target. I am a Turkish citizen who loves my country and my people."