CHP Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik speaks on the detention of Ahmet Özer: There is interference in the judiciary

CHP Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer has been detained. Following the detention decision, CHP Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik stated, 'There is interference in politics through the judiciary.'

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CHP Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik speaks on the detention of Ahmet Özer: There is interference in the judiciary

Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer was detained at his home in the early morning hours.

It was noted that the detention order was issued due to various investigations being conducted into the municipality in Esenyurt.

Searches were carried out at Özer's home and at the municipality.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that the investigation is aimed at identifying the members and activities of the PKK/KCK terrorist organization.

Özer was taken to the Vatan Police Headquarters as part of the detention.

ALLEGED 14 CONTACTS WITH INDIVIDUALS SOUGHT WITH RED NOTICES

The following statements were included in the explanation regarding the matter from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office:

"Within the scope of the investigations conducted by our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to identify the members and activities of the PKK/KCK terrorist organization;

Based on the evidence within the scope of our investigation file, it is summarized that suspect Ahmet Özer, who currently serves as the Mayor of Esenyurt district in Istanbul, has established an organic bond with the terrorist organization in a continuous and intensive manner, considering the organizational documents seized from members of the terrorist organization and also delivered to the organization's executive cadre located in the Qandil region of Northern Iraq (the appropriateness of his assignment to the so-called democratic autonomy project during a meeting with terrorist organization leader Abdullah Öcalan on Imralı island), the transcripts of conversations obtained as a result of the communication interception measure applied to him, physical surveillance reports, and the contents of the examined account movements, as well as his communication records with (694) different unique individuals who have judicial records due to their membership in the aforementioned terrorist organization over a period of approximately 10 years, and specifically his 14 contacts with Remzi Kartal (Co-Chair of KONGRA-GEL - Member of the KCK Executive Council - one of the individuals sought with a Red Notice), and thus it is understood that there is strong suspicion of crime that he has committed the crime of Being a Member of the PKK/KCK Armed Terrorist Organization;

In accordance with the decision obtained from the Istanbul Duty Criminal Judgeship of Peace, instructions were given to the Istanbul Police Department Anti-Terrorism Branch to search his residence, workplace, and vehicles, to seize evidence of the crime, and to apprehend and detain the suspect as of 06.00 on October 30, 2024, and the aforementioned suspect has been apprehended and detained. Search operations are still ongoing.''

THERE IS INTERFERENCE IN THE JUDICIARY

Following the detention of Esenyurt Mayor Özer, CHP Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik made important assessments.

Speaking to Sözcü TV, the highlights of Çelik's statements are as follows:

''We are also trying to understand, but we have not been able to make sense of it; we are following the process. Our deputies and mayors are at the Vatan Police Headquarters.

I would like to state this: a process is being carried out within a few hours at 6 o'clock in the morning regarding Prof. Dr. Ahmet Özer.

Who is Ahmet Özer? He served as the secretary-general of the GAP Union of Municipalities. Ahmet Özer is an academic, a scientist.

He has also been an elected mayor since March 31.

I would like to state again that I evaluate this as interference in politics through the judiciary.

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Özer is a scientist, a person who has written dozens of books. He started to implement a very effective local government model. Before 2019, Esenyurt had become an unlivable place.''

News Source: 12punto