Citizen who criticized Erdoğan in street interview detained immediately

Mehmet Şah Karataş, who criticized President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and stated that he would vote for Ekrem İmamoğlu during a street interview conducted by a YouTube channel called "Kendine Muhabir" in Istanbul's Şirinevler Square, was detained by plainclothes police officers within minutes and taken to the police station.

POLICE STOLE HIS MONEY

Following his detention, Karataş stated that the police stole 20,000 TL from him and assaulted him.

Karataş described what he experienced in his statement as follows:

"During the street interview, I criticized the poor state of the economy and the inability to make ends meet. Then I stated that I support İmamoğlu and will vote for him. At that moment, people around me grabbed my arm, detained me, and stole my money. While they were searching me, they took my 20,000 TL and damaged my mobile phone. Later, they forced me into a vehicle, assaulted me, and punished me for my criticism by saying that Bahçelievler is a stronghold of the AK Party."

Karataş stated that after being released, he went to the CHP's Bahçelievler District Headquarters to explain what had happened to him, but noted that he was not listened to and was ignored.

REQUEST FROM THE CHANNEL OWNER WHO CONDUCTED THE INTERVIEW

While the CHP administration confirmed that Karataş is a party member, the people who conducted the interview were also contacted. Hasan Köksoy, the owner of the Kendine Muhabir YouTube channel, stated that Karataş only made criticisms and that the police displayed a harsh attitude. He noted that they objected to Karataş being taken away by the police, but the police did not accept this.

News Source: 12punto