Confession from AKP official regarding those arrested in 'İmamoğlu protests'! 'They were selected from special cameras'

An AKP official spoke about the arrest of young people who participated in protests against the arrest of CHP's presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu.

"Regarding very simple matters, those friends who ask 'could they not be tried without arrest' opposed us last year when we introduced the concept of concrete evidence for catalog crimes, especially the CHP and DEM Party members. Unfortunately, we have a model of double-standard behavior. The opposition is also doing this, starting with them," he said.

"THEY WERE ALL SELECTED FROM SPECIAL CAMERAS"

Claiming that the young people "engaged in acts that constitute crimes under the Anti-Terror Law and the Turkish Penal Code under the guise of protest," the AKP official alleged, "They were all selected from special cameras. Each one of them was throwing Molotov cocktails, hiding their faces with masks, cursing at the police, and attacking them with kicks."

Responding to questions from a group of journalists at the Turkish Grand National Assembly, the AKP official said the following regarding the students who participated in the protests:

"Among them are those who threw Molotov cocktails at the police, threw acid, cursed, and attacked with kicks. You see examples of this in Europe too; who allows it? Is there such a thing as 'I am a student, I can throw Molotov cocktails, I can throw acid'? Let them say that in Turkey, students have the right to throw Molotov cocktails, cover their faces with masks, throw acid at the police, curse, and attack the police with kicks and sticks under the guise of the concept of protest... They were all selected from special cameras. Each one of them was throwing Molotov cocktails, hiding their faces with masks, cursing at the police, and attacking with kicks."

When asked, "Could these young people not have been tried without arrest?" the AKP official replied:

"We don't know the files, we look at them with prejudice. Yes, the phenomenon we call arrest in Turkey is unfortunately perceived differently, and I say this for all segments. Arrest should be very exceptional. Even including murder and higher penalties... There are issues like the inability to determine an address, suspicion of tampering with evidence, catalog crimes, and heavy penal sanctions. If the conditions are not met, you resort to arrest or other measures; it is at the discretion of the judge. But we see that those friends who ask 'could they not be tried without arrest' in very simple matters were the ones who opposed us last year when we introduced the concept of concrete evidence for catalog crimes, especially the CHP and DEM Party members. Why didn't they object then?

The essential thing is the execution of the sentence. Arrest cannot be a form of punishment. It should be applied in very specific areas, as a measure. But in our country, when a criminal investigation begins, if a person is arrested, it is 'done.' If they are not arrested, there is a perception that they have been 'acquitted.' The person might be convicted later in the investigation. Unfortunately, we have a model of double-standard behavior. The opposition is also doing this, starting with them. For example, when someone kicks a doctor, they should normally be tried without arrest. But they immediately run headlines saying 'they were not arrested.'"

"THE ALLEGATIONS MUST BE ANSWERED"

Regarding the arrest of Istanbul's elected Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, the AKP official made the following assessment:

"I looked at İmamoğlu's file, which they shared; there are 121 questions. Those allegations must be answered. You can say, 'I have my own private company, I earn it myself, I haven't wronged anyone.' But you are performing a public duty and you are being asked a number of questions. There is a tender process and its applications. If you cannot answer questions about a tender process and its applications, it means you have a concern about covering up or hiding something. You can answer clearly.

It is reflected in MASAK reports that three villas in a very special area in the heart of Istanbul, on the Bosphorus, were transferred to your company for 15 million TL. What is their real value? Each one is 500 million TL, maybe even more right now. The company that transferred them received nearly 15-20 billion in tenders from the Metropolitan Municipality in a six-month period. You are not explaining this.

The press advisor... A member of parliament's salary is 176 thousand liras. A press advisor's monthly income is 350 thousand liras. First and foremost, you journalists should be asking this. If you come before the public prosecutor and say, 'I am not answering this question,' and you don't even say 'I am using my right to remain silent,' but rather 'I am not answering,' then excuse me, if you are performing a public duty, you have the responsibility to perform that public duty with full seriousness, with full care, and in accordance with the legislation. If you do not, you will face many penal articles such as, at the very least, misconduct in office, and others like abuse of office, bribery, extortion, and causing public damage."

"OUR PRIORITY IS..."

In response to questions regarding the demands voiced by DEM Party members following the İmralı visits, the AKP official stated, "Our priority is for the requirements of the call to be fulfilled in a way that leads to the goal of a 'Terror-Free Turkey,' and for the PKK to implement the clear decision that it has laid down its arms. To dissolve itself and convene its congress. We have no other agenda."

When asked, "If these are done, will the demands be met?" the official replied, "These things are a matter of atmosphere. Therefore, let us first see the results, how the environment develops, what the needs are, what kind of situations exist. Some people may create an agenda for themselves. But you cannot know whether the conditions, situations, and results you will reach will develop something towards this. We do not currently find it appropriate to have a condition or an expectation such as 'This is my agenda, and I am following it in accordance with my agenda. Let's put this before it, let's put that before it'; we are focusing on our work."

"INTEGRATE INTO THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE, RESTRUCTURE YOURSELVES IN TERMS OF CIVIL POLITICS"

When reminded that MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli called for the terrorist organization PKK's congress to be held in Muş on May 4, the AKP official said:

"Some things are symbolic; they are meant to express the expectation of the matter. You know how these things were implemented in the past. Symbolically, something must be put forward without delay. Because the one who founded and manages this, İmralı, has made a call, right? The current expectation, the crisis area where the world is currently drifting, the issues in the Middle East, Syria, and Iraq, reveal that violence, terror, and weapons will not yield results in the future, and it is impossible for them to do so from now on.

Therefore, integrate into the social structure, restructure yourselves in terms of civil politics. Make the call that you have laid down your arms, bury the weapons, and dissolve yourselves. Adding something to the front, back, left, or right of this would not be very correct. We don't have such a thing either."

"WE WILL SAY IT FACE-TO-FACE AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME"

When asked whether they had congratulated Özgür Özel, who was re-elected as CHP Chairman, the AKP official replied, "No. Best of luck. We will say it face-to-face at an appropriate time."

News Source: 12punto