Özgür Özel visits Zafer Party: 'They lost on March 31, they have lost their senses'

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel visited the Zafer Party Headquarters. Ankara Metropolitan Municipality (ABB) Mayor Mansur Yavaş accompanied Özel during the visit, which took place following the recent arrest of Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ. 

Following the visit, CHP leader Özgür Özel and Zafer Party Deputy Chairman Mehmet Ali Şehirlioğlu appeared before the cameras together. Stating, "We are experiencing the consequences of the collapse of the rule of law in Turkey, the trampling of judicial independence, and the transformation of those serving in the judiciary into apparatuses acting in accordance with the political goals of the government," Özgür Özel made the following remarks: 

"As you know, every day in Turkey, we are experiencing the consequences of the collapse of the rule of law, the trampling of judicial independence, and the transformation of those serving in the judiciary into apparatuses acting in accordance with the political goals of the government. Turkey is encountering a process every day where we say, 'this has happened too.' A political party leader has been arrested. There is no acceptable side to the fact that Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ had an investigation opened against him in Ankara, was detained by police from a restaurant, taken to Istanbul, and sent to prison after a process that amounted to a great deal of mobbing. 

'EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT STAND WITH THE AK PARTY IS A TARGET'

The process resulted in an arrest by including retrospective tweets and hastily adding an incident that occurred in Kayseri to the case file. At the end of all these processes, an attempt is being made to suppress the Zafer Party. We know they are not doing anything in vain. The target is not just the Zafer Party alone. Everyone who is not with the AK Party, who does not carry water to their mill, and who does not row for them is a target. We must express the following to all of Turkey; no one becomes a terrorist just because the AK Party says so. No one is a thief just because the AK Party says so. The AK Party says these things. These are slanders attributed to you because you are not with the AK Party. I would like to address the very valuable voters who vote for the AK Party and the MHP from here; the issue is not to fight bravely, the issue is to trip your opponent from behind instead of truly engaging in a political struggle. 

It is shameful, it is a pity, it is a sin! Who can rejoice when they win a struggle through referee cheating? We are fighting against this mentality that cheats against its opponent. They lost an election on March 31, and they have lost their senses. 

We hope that reason and conscience will prevail as soon as possible."

News Source: 12punto