Solidarity visit in Saraçhane: Statements from Özgür Özel and Ali Babacan

Following the detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, support visits from political parties to the CHP have begun.

DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan visited CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, who has been in Saraçhane since March 19, the day İmamoğlu was detained in a dawn operation.

Speaking after the visit, Özgür Özel stated the following:

We are facing a slander of being a terrorist and criminal organization. We are entering the 4th day of the detentions. As of 06:20 tomorrow morning, decisions must be made by the judge regarding our friends in custody, primarily Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu, Murat Çalık, and Emrah Şahan. We are following this process closely.

We have been in Saraçhane from the very first moment. Today, the esteemed DEVA Party Chairman Ali Babacan and his valuable delegation paid a solidarity visit. We had the opportunity to both inform them about the process and benefit from their vast state experience. I am grateful to them for their visit."

Ali Babacan said the following:

Almost 3 years have passed, and I am in Saraçhane again. Once again, there is injustice and lawlessness. We also have an objection. We are here with our friends for democracy and for justice. Turkey has been going through a period in the last 1 year where hopes were beginning to sprout on some issues.

What were these? Hopes were sprouting about whether a different era could begin in Turkey-EU relations. Hopes were sprouting in Syria. Hopes were also sprouting for a Turkey without terrorism.

Just at a time when these hopes were sprouting, unfortunately, the events of the last week have darkened all those hopes in our country again, causing our people, especially our youth, to completely lose their confidence in the future.

We are saddened, but we are just as angry. Turkey is a very large and beautiful country. But where will this country draw its strength from? The current government says, 'We have gathered power in one hand, that is how we will become strong.'

It didn't work, it isn't working. Exactly 8 years have passed since the 2017 constitutional amendment; Turkey has been losing power for 8 years. A strong country draws its strength from the law, rule-based governance, justice, and strong institutions. A country is strong if it has strong institutions. That country is strong if its judiciary is independent and impartial."

News Source: 12punto