Ahmet Özer speaks from prison... He explains the contradiction: 'Öcalan’s letter...'

CHP's elected Mayor of Esenyurt, Ahmet Özer, was detained on October 30 and arrested on November 4 on charges of "membership in a terrorist organization." Abdullah Öcalan's call for the 'PKK to disband' and the terrorist organization's subsequent statement regarding dissolution have brought up questions about whether Özer and other CHP politicians imprisoned on charges related to the 'city consensus' (kent uzlaşısı) will be released. 

Following the PKK's statements on dissolution, Özer answered questions from journalist Murat Sabuncu. Responding to questions ahead of his hearing on May 23, Özer explained the contradictions within the process.

Expressing that his only source of sorrow is being imprisoned when he should be contributing to the process as an academic who has worked on the Kurdish issue, Özer stated, "I saw and experienced how great a contribution even a single person can make to social peace through my dear friend Sırrı Süreyya Önder, whom we lost too soon. My greatest sorrow today is that I cannot actively contribute to the peace process because I am inside."

"WHAT A TERRIBLE CONTRADICTION"

CHP's Özer explained that the reason for his imprisonment is that his name was mentioned—without his knowledge—among 'intellectuals and academics who should contribute to the solution' in the Imralı notes during the resolution process 11 years ago. He described the situation as a political operation carried out by the government, pointing out the contradiction that while Öcalan's letter is read before the national and international press, he himself remains imprisoned on 'terrorism' charges, asking, "What a terrible contradiction is this?"

The relevant part from Sabuncu's article is as follows:

"Just think, I am imprisoned because my name was mentioned 11 years ago in a conversation at Imralı between Öcalan and the current delegation members Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Pervin Buldan, among intellectuals and academics who should contribute to the solution process, and that too in a conversation between third parties and against my will. On the other hand, a peace process is being conducted for this very reason, and Öcalan’s letter is being read in front of hundreds of national and international press members. Bahçeli finds these views very important and valuable. Yet, I am being kept in prison just because my name was mentioned in the Imralı talks 11 years ago. What a terrible contradiction. Is there any explanation for this? Moreover, one of those whose name was mentioned in that conversation is the current Speaker of Parliament, Numan Kurtulmuş. However, the indispensable condition for the manifestation of justice is equality. It is an impartial and independent judiciary. Unfortunately, that does not exist today."