CHP Leader Özgür Özel gives a harsh response to Erdoğan's 'Sharia' statement: 'You know what the punishment for theft is'

Republican People's Party mayoral candidates were announced today at a candidate introduction meeting held at the Atatürk Indoor Sports Hall. From the early hours of the morning, CHP supporters flocked to the Atatürk Indoor Sports Hall. During the meeting, CHP's candidates for 17 district municipalities and the metropolitan municipality were introduced on stage.

CHP's Manisa Candidate Introduction Meeting began with the participation of CHP Chairman Özgür Özel.

Özel made statements at the mayoral candidate introduction meeting in Manisa.

SHARIA RESPONSE: "DO NOT CONFUSE ANYONE"

Highlights from Özel's statements are as follows:

"We are where everything began. I heartfully thank you, my dear comrades, who are here or who cannot be here but whose hearts are with us.

Some are insulting us, attacking us; even if there is nothing, they try to stir up a debate. What will you gain in this country from a Sharia debate? They do not want to talk about price hikes and the high cost of living.

I am calling out to all of Turkey from here; we will not participate in Erdoğan's artificial agendas in a place where there is hunger and poverty.

Let me also give an answer: if you say that the rules you call Sharia should replace positive law, think carefully; you know what the punishment for theft is. If it were applied, you wouldn't have a single finger, hand, or tongue left. Therefore, do not confuse anyone by talking about Sharia and sultanate, and having people chant slogans calling yourself a caliph."

"FIFTH PRESIDENT IN FIVE YEARS"

You know the country is being managed very poorly. The country's biggest problem is inflation and the high cost of living. The CBRT is the institution tasked with ensuring price stability and fighting inflation. It must be independent while implementing policies. That is what the law says. Last night, CBRT President Gaye [Erkan] resigned in her own way. The fifth president in five years. They removed her from office after 9 months.

A young, educated woman had come and was doing her job, but they started to harass her. They forced her to resign. In the end, the resignation came and someone else was appointed. Şahap leaves, Hafize comes; Hafize leaves, someone else comes."

MESSAGE FOR MARCH 31

Our lists may not be perfect, but with this belief in change, this party will change, rejuvenate, and march toward power. I promise. We are on a new path; this path is a clean path. We will walk together to change the fate of the country, to prosper together, and to end poverty. We will walk together.

The March 31 elections are the elections where this nation will show a yellow card to the government. They are trying to isolate and demonize the CHP. We did everything to form an alliance, but our partners, whom we respect, refused for various reasons. I would have very much liked to form this alliance in Ankara, but it did not happen. I respect that. If one CHP member could not form this alliance, ten thousand CHP members will."

After his speech, Özel introduced his candidates.

CHP's mayoral candidates in 17 districts of Manisa have been determined.

Here are the CHP's candidates in Manisa by district:

Ahmetli: Fuat Bektaş

Akhisar: Besim Dutlulu

Alaşehir: Ahmet Öküzcüoğlu

Demirci: Şerif Akmeşe

Gölmarmara: Cem Aykan

Gördes: İbrahim Büke

Kırkağaç: Üstün Dönmez

Köprübaşı: Fatih Taşlı

Kula: Hikmet Dönmez

Salihli: Mazlum Nurlu

Saruhanlı: Zeki Bilgin

Sarıgöl: Tahsin Akdeniz

Selendi: Cemil Kurt

Soma: Sercan Okur

Şehzadeler: Gülşah Durbay

Turgutlu: Çetin Akın

Yunusemre: Semih Balaban