Bülent Arınç reacts to arrests following Israel protests: 'Even if it is claimed there is a criminal element...'

During the opening of the TRT World Forum 2024, 2 people criticized AKP Chairman and President Erdoğan over 'trade with Israel' during his speech, and the 2 protesters were forcibly removed from the hall.

At the TRT World Forum held at the Istanbul Congress Center, 2 protesters in the hall chanted, "Ships are carrying bombs to Gaza," to which Erdoğan responded: "My child, do not be the tongue and mouth of the Zionists here. No matter how much you try to provoke this place by being the tongue, mouth, and eyes of the Zionists, you will not get results.

The Zionists in the world know very well where Tayyip Erdoğan stands. But you still haven't understood," he replied.

9 PEOPLE WHO PROTESTED WERE ARRESTED

The two people who protested, two others alleged to be preparing for a protest in the hall, and five people who chanted slogans in front of the congress center demanding an end to trade with Israel were detained by teams. The 9 people brought to the Çağlayan Courthouse in Istanbul were arrested on Sunday, December 1, by the Istanbul Duty Criminal Judgeship of Peace to which they were referred.

ARINÇ'S CRITICISM OF THE ARREST

Bülent Arınç, one of the founders of the AKP and a former Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), criticized the arrest of the 9 people who were detained after protesting against President and AKP Chairman Erdoğan over the issue of trade with Israel.

Sharing a text of criticism on his X account, Arınç stated, "I have previously expressed my opinions on the concept of 'freedom of expression' regarding several different issues. I would like to express that I find the arrest of our nine young people as a result of the protest carried out during a program of our President in recent days to be wrong."

Stating that the arrest decision was not correct and that there are many judicial control measures instead of arrest, Arınç said the following:

I have previously expressed my opinions on the concept of 'freedom of expression' regarding several different issues.

I would like to express that I find the arrest of our nine young people as a result of the protest carried out during a program of our President in recent days to be wrong.

Such practices, which have had examples in the past, leave negative marks on social memory and shake confidence in our justice system.

There is no necessity in the incident in question that would require detention. Even if it is claimed that there is a criminal element in the incident, there are many judicial control measures that can replace detention. I do not find it appropriate to resort to arrest in such a simple incident in terms of criminal justice and sociology.

Protests can take place within legal boundaries. The state's wisdom should be far from considering events on a case-by-case basis and should act by calculating the consequences it will create in the eyes of society.

We believe that the approach of our President and his government regarding Palestine and Gaza, and the stance they have shown against the despicable attitude of Israel's Zionist administration, which massacres innocent people, is clear and sincere.

Turkey defends the rights of the people of Gaza on every platform regarding diplomacy, international law, and human rights. However, there may be those who think differently. Such protests should always be met with normalcy and remain outside the threat of punishment.