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Bülent Arınç expects an 'apology' from Devlet Bahçeli: He will visit Demirtaş and Kavala

Bülent Arınç, one of the former speakers of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), has announced that he will visit Selahattin Demirtaş and Osman Kavala. Evaluating Bahçeli's statement that "the release of Demirtaş will lead to auspicious outcomes for Turkey," Arınç stated, "The point Bahçeli has reached is the point where I stood five years ago. I see it as an important development that Mr. Bahçeli has reached this point today. If an apology is offered, I will forgive him. Otherwise, I will take this grievance to the afterlife," he said.

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MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's statement that "the release of Selahattin Demirtaş will lead to auspicious outcomes for Turkey" continues to maintain its place on the political agenda.

Bülent Arınç, one of the founders of the AKP and a former Speaker of the TBMM, issued a written statement regarding the matter.

In his statement, Arınç announced that he will visit Selahattin Demirtaş and Osman Kavala on Tuesday, November 11.

"This visit is not a political demonstration; it is an expression of a humanitarian and conscientious stance," said Arınç, adding, "I hope that justice will be served by that day and that I will visit both individuals not in prison, but at their homes, with their families, to say 'get well soon'."

Reacting to MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli in his statement, Arınç indicated that he expects an apology from Bahçeli.

In his statement, Arınç said, "The point Bahçeli has reached is the point where I stood five years ago. I see it as an important development that Mr. Bahçeli has reached this point today," and added, "If an apology is offered, I will forgive him. Otherwise, I will take this grievance to the afterlife."

The full text of Arınç's statement is as follows:

"'...I believe that the injustices committed in those days and the harsh, hurtful words spoken in an organized manner constitute a violation of rights. This right can only be cleared with a sincere apology. If an apology is offered, I will forgive him. Otherwise, I will take this grievance to the afterlife...'

In a speech I gave on Habertürk in November 2020, I expressed my thoughts regarding the judicial processes of Selahattin Demirtaş and Osman Kavala with an open heart. I said, "Detention should not turn into punishment. Both individuals should be released."

I said these words with the responsibility of a politician who believed in the rule of law and the universal principles of justice at that time.

However, following that statement, I received harsh expressions, labels, and even slanders that I did not deserve from many circles, especially from Mr. Devlet Bahçeli. There were those who called me a "terrorist" and a "traitor" that day.

These attacks were directed not only at me but at everyone who possesses a conscience and a sense of justice.

"I WAS TASKED WITH DEFENDING THE TRUTHS I BELIEVED IN"

I resigned from my membership in the Presidential High Advisory Board due to what happened in those days. Because I was tasked with defending the truths I believed in. Today, five years later, hearing the same words and the same call from the mouth of Mr. Bahçeli, who directed the harshest criticisms at that time, did not surprise me, but it made me think.

Mr. Bahçeli's statement today that "court decisions must be complied with" is, of course, valuable. The point he has reached is the point where I stood five years ago.

For years, I have been saying that the decisions of the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights must be implemented. This is our constitutional obligation.

I see it as an important development that Mr. Bahçeli has reached this point today.

However, this change cannot cover up the harsh words directed at me in those days.

In those days, starting from the very top and going down to the bottom, they targeted me in an organized manner with sentences full of insults, discredited me, damaged my personal rights, and turned me into an object of hatred in some circles.

"IF AN APOLOGY IS OFFERED, I WILL FORGIVE"

I am a person who attaches great importance to the rights of others. I believe that the injustices committed in those days and the harsh and hurtful words spoken in an organized manner constitute a violation of rights. This right can only be cleared with a sincere apology. If an apology is offered, I will forgive him. Otherwise, I will take this grievance to the afterlife.

On Tuesday, November 11, I will visit Selahattin Demirtaş and Osman Kavala in prison as part of a visit I previously planned by obtaining permission from our Ministry of Justice.

This visit is not a political demonstration; it is an expression of a humanitarian and conscientious stance. I hope that justice will be served by that day and that I will visit both individuals not in prison, but at their homes, with their families, to say "get well soon".

I would like to remind you that the harsh words directed at me during this process caused a price to be paid not just by one person, but by a conscience.

The campaign carried out against me that day was not just a political settling of scores; it was an effort to discredit a person because of their thoughts.

The developments experienced today have once again shown that the truth will emerge sooner or later. I end my words with this belief:

The scales of justice do not falter, as long as we do not bend them with our own hands.

And no political calculation can cover up a violation of rights."