Lawsuit filed against Kılıçdaroğlu following complaint by MHP deputies: First statement released

A lawsuit has been filed against Kılıçdaroğlu following a complaint by MHP deputies. According to a report by Seyhan Avşar from Gerçek Gündem, the investigation began with a petition submitted to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in February 2022 by MHP Deputy İzzet Ulvi Yönter—whose name is frequently mentioned in the Sinan Ateş murder case—and fellow MHP deputies Feti Yıldız and İsmail Faruk Aksu.

The complaint against Kılıçdaroğlu, who held parliamentary immunity at the time, was processed as soon as his immunity was lifted.

Kılıçdaroğlu, who faces charges of "consecutive praise of a crime and a criminal," could face 2.5 to 3.5 years in prison and a "political ban" under Article 53 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). The indictment has been accepted. If Kılıçdaroğlu is convicted in this case, he will be subject to a political ban.

NUMEROUS ACCUSATIONS

The indictment levels numerous accusations against Kılıçdaroğlu. Statements made by Kılıçdaroğlu during an interview at the Istanbul University International Relations Club in 2014, as well as comments made during television programs and meetings he attended in 2015, were cited as grounds for the charges.

CRITICISM OF DEMİRTAŞ'S DETENTION ALSO INCLUDED

A meeting where Kılıçdaroğlu met with journalists at the Moda Deniz Club on September 25, 2019, was also included in the indictment as a subject of accusation. The following remarks made by Kılıçdaroğlu, who criticized the detention of former HDP Co-Chairman Selahattin Demirtaş during the meeting, were included in the indictment:

"It is quite clear, I am saying that the judiciary is not independent. The gentleman is taking the place of the judge, saying 'we cannot release them.' Are you the judge, or is the person sitting on the bench the judge? He tells the judge, decide this way, look, you will not release them. The judge also knows what disasters will befall him if he releases them. Because the judge's conscience has been rented out, he says okay; let's arrest them, the gentleman wanted it this way, let's keep them in prison for a long time, they say."

The indictment cites numerous speeches and statements made by Kılıçdaroğlu regarding Demirtaş's detention as evidence for the charges. 

Furthermore, the MHP deputies stated that Kılıçdaroğlu used the term "gang" 23 times in reference to the Supreme Election Council (YSK) judges who issued the decision to cancel the Istanbul elections, and that he should be punished for this as well. Another complaint from the MHP members concerned a post Kılıçdaroğlu made on his personal social media account on July 25, 2017. In that post, Kılıçdaroğlu stated, "Just as we are against the July 15 coup attempt, we are also against those who use the State of Emergency (OHAL) for their own interests and carry out the July 20 civil coup. After the July 20 civil coup, Turkey turned into a party-state. We will not allow this order, which sides with the powerful rather than the righteous, to continue..."

The indictment noted that many of the actions for which the MHP deputies filed complaints were statements made by Kılıçdaroğlu in the TBMM (Grand National Assembly of Turkey) Group, and that criminal proceedings could not be initiated for these as they fall under legislative irresponsibility.

FIRST STATEMENT FROM KILIÇDAROĞLU

Following the filing of the lawsuit, the first statement came from Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Kılıçdaroğlu stated that the judiciary is not independent.

Kılıçdaroğlu's statement is as follows:

"These things reveal even better who is disturbed by my speeches. The judiciary is under Erdoğan's control, not mine. The judiciary is not independent, therefore it acts according to the instructions they receive from the palace."