Breaking News... Özgür Özel defies the vile attack! 'If you have the courage, arm the attacker and send him!'

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel spoke at his party's parliamentary group meeting in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM).

Özel began his speech by commemorating Deniz Gezmiş, Yusuf Aslan, and Hüseyin İnan, who were executed on May 6, 1972.

Our Chairman Özgür Özel is speaking at our party's TBMM group meeting. https://t.co/78WojEe1i0

— CHP ???? (@herkesicinCHP) May 6, 2025

Here are Özel's statements:

"On Sunday, we went to bid farewell to a dove of peace. That day, only Sırrı Süreyya Önder should have been discussed.

I had a trust. He had asked me if I had watched the movie 'A Republic Song'. At that moment, I hadn't. He said, 'Watch that movie, then let's talk.' I watched the movie in tears. We returned to Ankara. I used to drink coffee and chat with Önder often. He asked, 'What did you see?'

I explained what kind of Atatürk I saw and what messages the film conveyed.

'Now my heart is at ease. I will give you a trust until I die. I wrote the screenplay for that film,' he said. I asked, 'Why didn't you tell me?' Of course, those were the times when he was being demonized... It was a period when those who greeted his party were accused of collaborating with terrorism, and they were being targeted.

'If I say it, it would be a disservice to the efforts of others who worked on the film. I wanted this film to be watched widely. They would say it's Sırrı Süreyya's film and twist it elsewhere. I wanted to hear from you how I portrayed Atatürk,' he said.

On the day we were to send him to heaven, something else happened; an attack took place. Unfortunately, while Sırrı Süreyya Önder's life was supposed to be discussed that day, the attack was discussed instead. That is why I am filled with nothing but sorrow.

One must be open and clear. The attack is an open letter written to us, to all of us. They issued a warning.

I do not hold any political entity directly responsible for this. I will never say 'this person did it' or 'that person did it.' It is the state's duty to investigate who did it. It is their duty to reach all the connections.

Here, the AKP administration will face a major test in the 23rd year of its rule. If a proper investigation is conducted to the full extent of where this leads, there is no problem. Until that day, I cannot place this burden on anyone's shoulders.

But if the investigation hits a wall when it reaches certain places, then it is my right to speak about that place and those who do not pursue it.

Sincere steps must be taken to get us out of this atmosphere.

But some are telling us: 'We have brought Turkey to a certain point. We have made a decision. You are an obstacle to this decision. You are resisting, you are objecting. You are taking to the streets, you are filling the squares. You keep a rally on the agenda every week. Stop, sit down, return to Ankara, and sit in your party.'

They have sent this letter very clearly, written in bold letters. Who are they sending? A child murderer. They are saying, 'He killed his own child, wouldn't he spare you? Today his hands were empty, tomorrow it could be something else. We sent him, we had him attack you on the street.'

Did they write this letter? They did. Did they send it? They did. Did we read it? We certainly did. Will we have an answer? We will.

Tomorrow evening, we are at Beyazıt Square! On Saturday, we are in Van, in Van! On May 19th, we are in İzmir! This is our answer; did you read the answer? Get out of here!

I am telling the one who sent that child murderer empty-handed: If you have the courage, arm him and send him! I challenge you! (Applause rises)"

"We will not bend an inch, we will not take a step back," said Özel, drawing attention to the "slanders" in the operations against the CHP, calling out, "Those who throw tons of slanders to discredit people, then forget those slanders and fall silent." Criticizing TRT, Özel said, "Take us on a live broadcast, throw your slander, and take the answer on air!"

ATTACKER SAID "ORDERS WERE GIVEN TO ASSASSINATE İMAMOĞLU"

Özgür Özel stated that the attacker, Selçuk Tengioğlu, had previously come to Saraçhane and said that an assassination would be carried out against IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

Özel explained the following:

"In January of this year, the child-murderer attacker came to the IMM and said, 'Instructions were given to the friends I stayed with in the ward, an assassination will be carried out against İmamoğlu, I came to report it.' Look at what kind of ward he stayed in, who were these friends he was in contact with? Our people called the police and handed him over, saying 'listen to this'? He will come to Saraçhane, knock on the door, and say, 'I am the murderer of two children, I got out of prison 4 years ago, I am still in contact with my ward mates. They received an order to assassinate İmamoğlu, just so you know.' Mr. Prosecutor, did you look into that ward, where is that ward? The man who said an assassination would be carried out against İmamoğlu is attacking the leader of the main opposition in front of everyone's eyes yesterday. Someone is using this man."

REFERENDUM CALL FOR KANAL İSTANBUL

Speaking about Kanal İstanbul, Özgür Özel reiterated his call for a referendum, saying, "Those who are confident in themselves bring the ballot box."

Here are the highlights from Özel's speech:  

"We promise the 86 million; under our rule, no one will see such things from us. The President will be impartial again, a strong parliamentary system will be established. Unions and the media will be strong and independent. 

Whatever the crime or sin of an individual, their mother, father, or spouse will not be taken hostage. A spouse will not be fired from their job and the family will not be driven to starvation just because they were a KHK (Decree Law) victim. No one will be labeled as a member of an organization and create a lost generation just because of the contacts of their spouse or friends anymore. 

We have no business with those who set up these conspiracies, those who got whatever they wanted in the past. They will receive their punishment.

The AKP has fallen from the eyes and hearts of the nation because it has confused the state and the party in Turkey."