Hüseyin Ersöz reacts to the arrest process: 'We are facing a political case'

Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan was among those detained as part of the "terrorism" investigation launched into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Following the detention process, a court decided to arrest Şahan. The Istanbul Governor's Office announced that it had appointed a trustee to the Şişli Municipality. Şişli District Governor Cevdet Ertürkmen was appointed as the trustee.

SUPPORT FROM CHP FIGURES

Lawyer Hüseyin Ersöz held a press conference in front of the Şişli Municipality following the decision. The statement was attended by CHP MPs Tahsin Ocaklı, Sibel Suiçmez, Ali Karaoba, Tahsin Becan, Türker Ateş, Serkan Sarı, members of the CHP Party Assembly, Çeşme Mayor Lâl Denizli, Şişli District Chair Tamer Özcanlı, members of the Şişli Municipality CHP Group, and numerous residents of Şişli. Participants expressed their support for Şahan.

Lawyer Hüseyin Ersöz recalled that they had continuously informed the public about Şahan's legal status throughout the detention process and reacted to the arrest decision. Ersöz said, "We have experienced a process where unfair, unlawful, and evidence-free allegations were not based on any concrete data, remaining entirely abstract and baseless."

Stating that the judicial process was conducted with political motives, Ersöz spoke as follows:

"We faced all the negative aspects that can be encountered in a political judicial process, which we can describe as unlawful in every way. At the end of this process, we appeared before the criminal judgeship of peace, and an arrest measure was applied here. Unfortunately, we are facing a decision that has completely broken away from a legal foundation."

''VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL OCCURRED''

Addressing the fact that some media outlets reported that he was "arrested" while the procedures for IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu were still ongoing, Hüseyin Ersöz said:

"While we were waiting in front of the door of the criminal judgeship of peace, with Republican People's Party Chairman Özgür Özel and the esteemed wife of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu by our side, we heard, saw, and learned from the press that Mayor Ekrem and Mayor Emrah had been arrested. These decisions had not yet been communicated to us. We had not yet entered the courtroom. We did not yet have an idea about the allegations. We had not yet been informed about what kind of decision the court would make. But while we were waiting in front of the courtroom door, we learned afterwards that an arrest decision had been made against us, an unfair and unlawful arrest decision. This judicial process has essentially evolved into a process where enemy criminal law is applied and where violations of the right to a fair trial occurred at almost every stage. We provided the necessary defenses regarding the accusations directed at our mayor, Resul Emrah Şahan, both at the law enforcement level, i.e., the police, and in the presence of the prosecutor's office, as well as before the criminal judgeship of peace. We presented the evidence regarding these within the investigation file. So much so that for every allegation, we shared a court decision, and for every accusation and baseless statement, we shared another fact with the judicial authorities there. But unfortunately, as a characteristic of political judicial processes, these did not have any karşılık (response) before the judicial authorities."

Stating that they are facing an arrest decision, Ersöz emphasized that they will continue to stand by Mayor Şahan and provide legal support in the coming process.

Hüseyin Ersöz said, "I am sure that you, as the people of Şişli and members of the Republican People's Party, who have raised your voices against these unfair and unlawful practices in one way or another, will continue to support Mayor Emrah and Mayor Ekrem. If we all fulfill our duties, I am sure we will have the opportunity to reunite with Mayor Emrah, the mayor elected with a high vote rate in Şişli, as soon as possible. The Şişli Municipality must continue to remain a fortress of democracy, human rights, law, and legal security. This can only be possible if you act as a voice for Mayor Emrah, speaking where he cannot speak, writing where he cannot write, and conveying his thoughts where he is not present. He expressed once again during our last farewell as he entered prison that he believes in and trusts you. I am sure you will not withhold your support from him."

SUPPORT FOR MAYOR ŞAHAN

Thousands of Şişli residents gathered in front of the municipality chanted slogans such as "Mayor Emrah is not alone" and "Şişli stands with its Mayor."

REACTION TO ARREST DECISIONS

Following the press statement, Rize MP Tahsin Ocaklı also reacted to the arrest decisions, stating, "This struggle is not just for today. This struggle will continue until democracy and law are established in Turkey. We will win, we will win, we will win."

Şişli District Chair Özcanlı stated that they would continue to hold a democracy vigil in front of the Şişli Municipality and called on all Şişli residents for solidarity.

News Source: 12punto