Detained during a street interview: Statement released by the Istanbul Governor's Office

Mehmet Şah Karataş, who gave an interview to a YouTube channel, criticized President Tayyip Erdoğan and stated that he would vote for Ekrem İmamoğlu in the local elections. It is alleged that within minutes, Karataş was detained by plainclothes police officers who were among the crowd watching the street interview and was taken to the police station.

Karataş, who was detained on allegations of committing the crime of "inciting the public to hatred and hostility or insulting," also claimed in his statement that the police stole his money and assaulted him, recounting the following:

"A street interview was being conducted at Şirinevler Square. Everyone was sharing their views on the economy and politics. At that moment, the person with the microphone asked, 'Would you like to speak too?' I said sure. I stated that the economy was bad and that we were struggling to make ends meet, and I made my criticism. Later, they asked, 'Who will you vote for in the local elections?' I said I am a member of the CHP and that I would vote for the CHP candidate, Ekrem İmamoğlu. I declared that I liked İmamoğlu and trusted him. I said he had fulfilled all his previous promises, and my speech ended.

After I finished speaking, 4-5 people grabbed my arm, saying 'Come here for a second,' and pulled me out of the crowd. I asked, 'Who are you? Are you police? You aren't wearing uniforms; if you are police, show me your ID.' The individuals said, 'Never mind who we are, we will show you who we are.' While searching me, they took the 20,000 TL in my wallet and damaged my mobile phone. Then they forced me into a vehicle and assaulted me inside. They said, 'Bahçelievler is the stronghold of the AK Party. You cannot criticize Erdoğan and praise İmamoğlu here. Go do your interview in Bakırköy. We don't want to see you in Bahçelievler again.' Later, they brought me to the police station. I absolutely did not insult our President. The police said, 'We are annoyed by you, that's why we are taking you.' They said they would go to a tavern and drink with my money. I am filing a complaint against the police."

STATEMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

A statement was released by the Istanbul Governor's Office regarding the incident, which sparked public reaction. The statement noted that police arrived at the scene following a report, and that it was determined that Karataş had refused to provide his ID, resisted, and had 8 prior criminal records as a suspect for crimes including resisting an officer, burglary, and intentional injury.

The statement from the Governor's Office is as follows:

"Following a report that an individual was making statements inciting the public to hatred and hostility during a street interview conducted at Şirinevler Square in the Bahçelievler district on 07.03.2024 at approximately 17:00, Istanbul Police Department officers were dispatched to the scene.

Upon inspection, it was observed that 1 male individual was speaking by shouting loudly to people conducting a street interview on Mareşal Fevzi Çakmak Street, that citizens had gathered around him, and that the gathered citizens were blocking the path of the nostalgic tram located on the street. Police officers who arrived at the scene wanted to ask the individual for his ID; the individual declared that he would not provide his ID and began to resist, and the individual was apprehended using graduated force.

The individual, whose identity was determined to be M.Ş.K., was transferred to the Police Unit. In the inquiry conducted, it was determined that he had 8 prior criminal records as a suspect for crimes including resisting an officer, burglary, and intentional injury.

Regarding the subject, proceedings were initiated against the apprehended suspect for the crime of 'Inciting the Public to Hatred and Hostility or Insulting.' After the procedures, he was released by judicial authorities to be referred later, and the 120 TL, 1 key, Istanbulkart, and 1 phone found during the search of the individual were handed over to him. Respectfully announced to the public."