Minister Tunç reacts to Özel over Akın Gürlek

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç responded via social media to the statements made by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel regarding Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek.

Following Özel's speech in front of the Marmara Penal Execution Institutions Campus, in which he invited Gürlek to return to practicing law, Tunç stated that such expressions targeting the legal profession are unacceptable.

In his statement, Tunç emphasized that the legal profession, one of the three pillars of the judiciary, is a sacred struggle in pursuit of justice and rights. Tunç said, "Irresponsible expressions that belittle our lawyers, who are the insurance of the right to a fair trial, do not befit the chairman of the main opposition party. Everyone should avoid inappropriate words that exceed the limits of freedom of expression."

Reminding that CHP leader Özel has criticized members of the judiciary in the past, Tunç stated, "Using a language that is hurtful and low-level toward a professional group does not benefit anyone. The politics of insult has been rejected by our nation and will continue to be rejected."

Özel had said regarding Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Gürlek, "He should return to another field where he can practice his profession with his diploma. He should definitely return to practicing law." Tunç expressed that these statements were aimed at discrediting not only members of the judiciary but also the legal profession itself.

WHO IS AKIN GÜRLEK?

Akın Gürlek, whom CHP Chairman Özgür Özel called a "mobile guillotine," had served in political cases such as the Academics for Peace, Hrant Dink, and the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) trials.

ESENYURT MUNICIPALITY

Most recently, he conducted the investigation into Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer, who was arrested on October 30, 2024, on allegations of "membership in an armed organization" and replaced by a government-appointed trustee. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office was criticized for releasing a statement containing technical details regarding the file while a confidentiality order was in place for Özer's case.

Following this event, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel began referring to him as a "mobile guillotine":

"Akın Gürlek, the mobile guillotine, is the one who cuts the neck of justice. Akın Gürlek who imposed a ban on Canan Kaftancıoğlu, Akın Gürlek in the Hrant Dink case, Akın Gürlek in the Sırrı Süreyya case. They are all cases in different courts. They are rushing him to all of them. Come on, impose a ban in Ankara, Akın, run to Istanbul, you are going to commit a massacre, Akın."

News Source: 12punto