First statement from Serhan Asker after his release: 'The real agenda is the 14,000 lira pension'

After his release, Asker appeared before the journalists waiting for him and made notable statements. Here are those words from Serhan Asker:

"I called my mother and father first. These types of arrests and detentions can also be carried out with these families in mind. Who knows, 24 hours have passed for them.

We don't know what they went through, of course. Everyone has a mother and a father. We should always consider these things when making such a decision.

I was at the channel yesterday. They could have invited me from the channel. Or they could have invited me today. They could have invited me earlier yesterday and taken my statement. Everything could have been done, but our freedom has been restricted for 24 hours. Thank God we are free now. We are sad, I am full of emotion. But our greatest strength will be a smile, right? We will stand tall. We will stand tall.

"YOU CANNOT UPSET US"

If we smile, we give the greatest answer. You cannot upset us. I mean, you can upset my mother and father because they have different emotions. But from today on, we will continue on our path in the same way. We will embrace Anatolia.

After my phone was returned to me, the first people to call me, the first people to reach me by phone, were those beautiful people in the earthquake zone. Now, I coughed a lot while I was in custody. I'm actually fine, but we were in Hatay on Sunday. Citizens who were left in that dust and smoke in Hatay.

We still haven't recovered after our 3-hour broadcast. They are left alone with that asbestos. The journey of 'Görkemli Hatıralar' (Magnificent Memories) will continue. This week we are in Trabzon first, then we will move on to Rize. We will continue to tell and introduce Anatolia to those beautiful people who cannot see Turkey from their homes, and the following week is the second anniversary of the February 6 earthquake. We will be by their side with our hearts. We will go to them.

"NOT THE REAL AGENDA"

If 20 thousand people still have to live in containers in Hatay with their tired and wounded hearts, then the agenda is not the arrest or detention of Serhan Asker.

The agenda is those wounded, tired hearts in Hatay. The agenda is that Aunt Fatma in Bingöl cannot fill her shopping bag.

The agenda is that the lowest civil servant pension is 14,000 lira. It is that the minimum wage is 22,000 lira and the rent is 30,000 lira. We are not afraid. None of my friends are afraid. As I said, we are a family.

Seda and I have been released, but now our ears will be tuned for the release of Suat, Kürşat, and Barış. Yesterday was the birthday of Seda's daughter.

Tomorrow is... Ece's... my daughter's birthday... What coincidences...

Anyway, after the broadcast, after I got my phone, I immediately called my mother and father and talked to Ece. The first person to call was CHP Chairman Özgür Özel. I thank him very much.

During the detention period, CHP deputies were here, Seyit Torun is here, Mahmut Tanal is here, almost the entire group was here, they came and supported us.

I thank them all very much. Edip Akbayram's wife sent a message from her sickbed. Ataol Brother sent a message.

I thank them all very much. As long as they are with us, we are with our people, and I thank the beautiful Halk TV audience who came in front of Halk TV and shared that feeling of support with us and entered into solidarity with us, from the bottom of my heart.

"WE WILL ALWAYS BE AGAINST THE OPPRESSOR"

Life goes on and we are strong here, I might be a bit emotional. But I assure you that we, as Halk TV, will always be against the oppressor.

The problems of the poor, the needy, the low-income, those who suffered in the earthquake, in Kartalkaya, I was going to visit a family who said goodbye to life in Kartalkaya today.

We made an appointment yesterday, I was going to go there today. I will go tomorrow. I always go. We will never give this up. Halk TV is so strong, dear viewers, it is so strong with you, as long as this solidarity continues, as the poet says, the end of winter is spring. We are approaching spring. We deserve spring and that spring is very close... As I said, we are a family.

I am so sad that these people have no guilt at all..

"IF THEY ARE ARRESTED, WE WILL BE CAPTIVES TOO"

I will only be happy with the release of Suat, Kürşat, and Barış. We are still captives here. If they are arrested, we will be captives too. We are captives right now. And today, the person who moved me the most lost her husband in prison.

Ilhan Erdost's wife. Her seeing me when the door opened while I was in custody, Gül Erdost. It was as if she showered carnations into my heart from Ilhan Erdost, from Muzaffer Ilhan Erdost.

What is it for us to spend a day in jail? Her husband, her brother-in-law, our intellectuals paid the price for this cause, they gave their lives.

What will happen if Serhan Asker spends one night in jail? We will continue to follow in their footsteps. For a bright Turkey, for a Turkey that defends science, for a Turkey that questions.

We have distributed 65,000 books to children so far, we will distribute 65,000 more books. We will continue on our path so that they may be enlightened, ask questions, and object. I don't want to prolong it too much.

We are going to Halk TV. Citizens have gathered there. We will show this solidarity all together. We will light the lights of a bright Turkey. We will be the enemies of a dark Turkey, and there will never be a dark Turkey.