CHP's Mahmut Tanal speaks to 12punto: 'If they are going to look for terrorists, they should look in the mirror first'

Beste ÇELİK-12punto.com.tr /EXCLUSIVE

Following the arrest of Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer and the appointment of a trustee in his place, the Republican People's Party (CHP) decided to hold its camp, originally planned for Antalya, in Istanbul instead.

Ahead of the CHP's TBMM Group Work and Evaluation Meeting to be held between November 1-3, CHP Şanlıurfa MP Mahmut Tanal spoke to 12punto.

"AHMET ÖZER IS NOT A TERRORIST, HE IS A SCIENTIST"

Criticizing the manner in which Ahmet Özer was detained, Tanal said, "Prof. Dr. Ahmet Özer's home was searched using methods typically applied to terrorists, that is, suicide bombers. The teams pushed Ahmet Özer's wife aside and dragged Ahmet Özer out of his bed as if he were a suicide bomber. One must accept this: Ahmet Özer is a mayor elected by the people. He is not a terrorist. He is a scientist."

"DUE TO AKP'S FETÖ RELATIONS, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MPS TO FORM A GROUP IN PARLIAMENT"

Speaking about a phone call Özer made 10 years ago with Remzi Kartal, which was cited as one of the grounds for his arrest, Tanal stated:

"They are talking about a phone call from 10 years ago. If we are going to talk about 10 years ago, the AKP would not have enough MPs to form a group in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) due to their own relations with FETÖ. These are words spoken by AKP members themselves.

What does our Anatolian people say? 'Stick the needle into yourself, and the needle-case into others.' If you are going to accuse people based on phone calls from 10 years ago, if they are going to look for terrorists, they should look in the mirror first."

Özer's remark in a condolence call, "He raised valuable children like you," had been presented as evidence of membership in an organization. Pointing to Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Tanal noted:

"They should ask the current Vice President, Cevdet Yılmaz. They should ask the AKP MPs in Bingöl and its surroundings or in Diyarbakır... Have they ever attended the funerals of someone whose family member was a terrorist? Have they ever offered condolences?

Stigmatizing people in this way for the actions of others is heartless and unlawful."

"WE WILL DISMANTLE THIS CONSPIRACY"

Reacting to the appointment of a trustee to the Esenyurt Municipality, Tanal concluded his remarks as follows:

"The AKP is trying to take through trustees what they could not win in the elections. This is pure arbitrariness. The trustee system must be changed as soon as possible. Here, as the CHP, we are determining a roadmap and discussing this.

According to the Criminal Procedure Code, while people have the right to appeal an arrest within 7 days, they appointed a trustee before this period expired, not even 24 hours later.

Well, what will happen when this appeal is concluded and Ahmet Özer is released? Will they be able to withdraw the trustee and make him mayor again? They won't. Because they did this because they had their eyes on that position, to ensure a connection to terrorism, and to appoint a trustee in his place. This is something thought out and planned.

As for the person appointed as trustee, they made the Beyoğlu District Governor a Deputy Governor just one day prior. Then they appointed him as trustee here. This is organized evil. It is not legal; it is political. We will dismantle this entire conspiracy."

News Source : 12punto