Özgür Özel visits prison: 'Her only crime is refusing to slander İmamoğlu'

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel visited Ipek Elif Atayman, the former General Manager of Medya A.Ş., who has been in custody since March 19 as part of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) investigation.

Speaking to reporters after his visit to the Afyonkarahisar Penal Institution, the CHP leader pointed out that when Atayman was transferred to the prison in question, she was forced to sleep on the floor for about a week.

"They keep sending messages. If she breaks, if she comes forward and slanders İmamoğlu, she can be released," said Özel, noting that those detained in the IBB investigation are still waiting for an indictment. 

"HER CRIME IS REFUSING TO SLANDER"

The CHP leader recorded the following remarks upon leaving the prison:

There is an ongoing persecution in the IBB case. One of the pillars of this persecution is Afyonkarahisar. Even though it has nothing to do with the case, the Afyon Prison—considering the overcrowding in prisons, the prosecutor sends these friends wherever there is overcrowding—forced Atayman to sleep on the floor for a week. They sent Atayman to a 20-person ward where 26 people were already staying. She slept on the floor for 6-7 days, and only after this was learned and reactions grew did she start sleeping in a normal bed.

By bringing people to the most crowded places, far from their children and families—Elif Hanım's parents are 84 years old. They have to travel this far just to visit. Do you know what her crime is? It is refusing to slander Ekrem İmamoğlu. The prosecutor says, 'You worked at the IBB, at Medya A.Ş., come and make this accusation against İmamoğlu.' And she says, 'How can I do something that didn't happen? I worked with honor and pride. How can I slander him now? How would I ever recover from such a slander later on?' And they say, 'Is that so? Have a safe journey [to prison].'

They keep sending messages. If she breaks, if she comes forward and slanders İmamoğlu, she can be released. Elif Hanım is maintaining a very honorable stance. The other female prisoners scattered across different prisons are also showing an honorable stance. They are not slandering anyone. They have no crimes to confess to, and they are waiting for the indictment.

News Source: 12punto