Mehmet Ali Şahin reacts to Abdullah Gül's support for 'İmamoğlu': 'I couldn't find it fitting at all'

The 11th President, Abdullah Gül, became the target of Presidential High Advisory Board member Mehmet Ali Şahin following his reaction to the investigation into Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Şahin stated regarding Gül, 'It has truly saddened us that he has adopted a rhetoric similar to that of the CHP. I am very worried about him. Therefore, I want to express that I could not find this fitting for him at all.'

Presidential High Advisory Board member Mehmet Ali Şahin spoke at a panel held at the AKP Headquarters titled 'April 27 in the Fight Against Junta and Coup Plotting: The Story of a Firm Stance'.

Şahin stated that 'as the People's Alliance, they have acted together to lead Turkey toward better and brighter tomorrows,' and thanked MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli.

Turning the subject to the 11th President Abdullah Gül's reaction against the detention and arrest of İBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mehmet Ali Şahin said, 'What did he say after the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor was detained and arrested? I want to share that with you. "What was done to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and myself in the past should not be done to Ekrem İmamoğlu." Well, what was done to Tayyip Erdoğan and Abdullah Gül in the past? What is being done to Ekrem İmamoğlu? Mr. Gül, we took every risk to get you elected. You were only being accused because your wife wore a headscarf. We were following a path just so that anyone in this country could walk around and work in whatever attire they wished. But while you say, "What was done to us should not be done to Mr. Ekrem," are you legitimizing this corruption? Are you legitimizing the corruption allegations? I mean, are you legitimizing these towers of money and bags? Therefore, it has truly saddened us that a person we elected by taking every risk has adopted a rhetoric similar to that of the Republican People's Party (CHP) on this matter. I am very worried about him. Therefore, I want to express that I could not find this fitting for him at all.'

"WE EXPECT LOYALTY FROM THE PERSON WE ELECTED PRESIDENT"

High Advisory Board member Mehmet Ali Şahin continued his criticisms of Abdullah Gül as follows: 

"When we were electing him, our President said from the podium, 'We are nominating our brother Abdullah Gül as the presidential candidate.' Loyalty shows this. But we also expect loyalty in return. We expect loyalty from this person whom we elected as President. Otherwise, by falling into the wake of the Republican People's Party regarding all sorts of allegations due to corruption—these are allegations—but in the face of these claims that turn one's stomach and lead to many question marks in the public eye, you should have said: 'This is a matter for the Public Prosecutors. One must wait for the result. I hope he is cleared.' But by saying, 'This government should not do to İmamoğlu what was done to Tayyip Erdoğan and me,' you are saying nothing different from Özgür Özel." 

WHAT DID ABDULLAH GÜL SAY?

11th President Abdullah Gül,  In his statement regarding the operation in which Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was detained and arrested, he said, "With nearly three years left until the next elections, and while some issues could be resolved through political dialogue and formulas, remaining in such turmoil will not move us forward. Let us remember how the public conscience rejected the injustices committed against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and myself in the past. Similar mistakes should not be made against Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was elected mayor by the will of the people."