Esenyurt's elected Mayor Ahmet Özer appears in court after 205 days

Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer, who was arrested and removed from office on October 30 and replaced by a trustee, is appearing in court in Silivri after 205 days.

The hearing began at 10:00 AM.

Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer was detained in a dawn raid on his home on October 30, 2024, and was arrested at midnight on the same day. Özer was removed from office by the Ministry of Interior and a trustee was appointed in his place.

Despite all objections from his lawyers, Özer's detention continued, and an indictment was prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office 113 days later, seeking a prison sentence of 7.5 to 15 years for the charge of "being a member of an armed terrorist organization."

ÖZGÜR ÖZEL WILL ALSO ATTEND

Özer will appear before a judge for the first time today, on the 205th day of his imprisonment, at the prison courtroom in Silivri. The hearing is expected to be attended by numerous CHP members, including CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, as well as Özer's relatives.

Making a statement before the hearing, one of Ahmet Özer's lawyers, Hüseyin Ersöz, said, "Today will be a day where 'facts,' not perceptions, are discussed. Whether Ahmet Özer is a CHP member, his alleged meetings with R.K., who is wanted with a red notice, HTS records, and secret witness testimonies—all of it will be debated! Facts such as the reality that there is no 'red notice' for R.K., whose statements are currently accepted as credible, and that Ahmet Özer's CHP membership dates back 14 years, will be explained through the documents entered into the case file."

MESSAGE FROM İMAMOĞLU

Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and CHP's presidential candidate, who has been in prison for 2 months, also shared a post regarding Özer's hearing today.

Describing the events as a 'legal massacre' and recalling the statements in the indictment, İmamoğlu said, "While Turkey is going through a critical process toward ending terrorism and democratization, the mentality doomed to lose, which considers 'the representation of Kurds in the West in local governments'(!) a crime, is depriving our Mayor Ahmet Özer of his freedom for this very reason."

Emphasizing that Özer should be released, İmamoğlu stated, "Prof. Dr. Ahmet Özer is a respected scientist and politician who has dedicated his years to the growth of peace and brotherhood in this country. Accusing the Mayor of being involved with a defunct organization is an attack on our goal of a Terror-Free and Democratic Turkey. I hope that this shame will be ended immediately, the Mayor will be released, and he will return to his duty as required by the will of the people of Esenyurt."

News Source: 12punto