CHP's Özgür Çelik reacts to detentions: 'Those who have no chance of being re-elected have set their sights on the right to vote'

Operations targeting CHP-run municipalities continue.

A large number of people, including prominent figures such as Union of Municipalities of Turkey Deputy Chair and Adana Metropolitan Mayor Zeydan Karalar, Antalya Metropolitan Mayor Muhittin Böcek, and Adıyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere, have been detained.

CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik reacted sharply to the operations and detention orders.

Stating, "Those who have no chance of being re-elected have set their sights on the right to vote of 86 million citizens of the Republic of Turkey and have murdered the rule of law," Çelik added the following:

"They have decided to spread the coup attempt they started in Istanbul, where they threw our presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu into prison on March 19, across the entire country. Signals are being given from podiums using terms like 'saddlebag,' 'radish,' and 'octopus'; the pro-government media is preparing public opinion, and the reputations of our mayors are being targeted with pre-judgments even as the investigation begins.

"WE CANNOT BE CITIZENS WITHOUT THE RIGHT TO VOTE"

In a case file where the person accused of forming an organization and named in the lawsuit is being tried without arrest under the status of a 'confessor,' our mayors, who came to office with the people's vote, are being detained in operations conducted in the early hours of the morning. The picture clearly seen here is this: 'Those who have no chance of being re-elected have set their sights on the right to vote of 86 million citizens of the Republic of Turkey and have murdered the rule of law.' In a place where the right to vote is ignored, citizenship loses its meaning. In an environment where there is no law, no one is safe. We will not accept this lawlessness and political engineering. Against a minority rule that ignores the will of the majority, we stand behind our mayors who have received the support of the people. It should not be forgotten that sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation."