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Meral Akşener files criminal complaint against brother-in-law Hasan Basri Akşener

It has been learned that Meral Akşener, the Founding Chair of the İYİ Party, has filed a criminal complaint with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against her brother-in-law, Hasan Basri Akşener.

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Former İYİ Party Chair Meral Akşener has filed a criminal complaint through her lawyer against Hasan Basri Akşener, a member of the Zafer Party's Founders' Board and Central Disciplinary Board.

It was noted that Hasan Basri Akşener is Meral Akşener's brother-in-law and that Akşener does not speak with her husband's brother.

In the criminal complaint filed with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in July, Akşener included social media posts made about her by her brother-in-law, Hasan Basri Akşener, who lives in İzmit, as well as social media messages exchanged between him and an individual identified as S.K., who is in frequent contact with Meral Akşener.

The complaint also stated that S.K. forwarded these messages, which are alleged to contain threats and insults, to Meral Akşener's lawyer out of concern for the seriousness of the situation and the potential danger it could pose.

REQUEST FOR JUDICIAL CONTROL MEASURES

In the text of the criminal complaint, Meral Akşener's lawyer stated that due to their kinship, Hasan Basri Akşener is in a position to know Meral Akşener's residence and visiting times.

Stating that the possibility of her being subjected to a potential attack has increased in recent days due to the recent rise in harsh criticism, disparaging discourse, and expressions directed at Meral Akşener, her lawyer requested that immediate measures be taken against Hasan Basri Akşener's threatening rhetoric and that judicial control measures be applied.

'HE TOLD ME NOT TO COMMENT'

Hasan Basri Akşener, who was called to the police station yesterday (October 30) to give a statement, stated that he had criticized the İYİ Party's management style and policies, which led to a falling out during the period when Meral Akşener was the party chair.

Hasan Basri Akşener spoke as follows:

"Akşener called me several times, said impolite things, and told me not to write articles or make comments against her. I told her that I would write what I know to be true and that I would continue to criticize her. We have not met face-to-face since this and similar events."

'I RESPONDED WHEN ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT AKŞENER'

Hasan Basri Akşener, who stated that he met S.K., with whom he messaged on social media, during the early days of the İYİ Party's establishment and that he occasionally chatted with him about topics such as politics and the economy, noted the following in his statement:

"On July 3, 2024, when he asked questions about Meral Akşener on Facebook, I responded.

However, I did not think that S.K. would forward or deliver these conversations. I had no instruction or declaration for the messages to be forwarded. In fact, while S.K. was messaging me, he made statements such as 'trust in my sincerity,' that the issues between Akşener and me were private family matters, and that he would consider these conversations unheard and unread. However, these conversations I had with S.K. were later leaked to local media outlets, and negative news stories were published about me.

For all these reasons, I filed a criminal complaint because S.K. shared these private conversations with third parties. I sent these messages to the person named S.K., not to Meral Hanım."

'I FIND IT EXTREMELY ABSURD'

In his statement, Hasan Basri Akşener said, "It is not possible for the crimes of insult and threat to be established due to the expressions I used. Since these messages were conversations between S.K. and me, it is not possible for the crime of insult in absentia to be established either. I intended the phrase 'If I see her, I will hit her' in the messages to mean 'If I see her, I will say it to her face.'

The expression 'hitting to her face' here does not mean showing physical violence, but is an idiom meaning to confront someone with their mistakes and faults. I do not approve of Akşener's policies, her actions, or her political stance, but I find the allegation that I would commit physical violence against her because of what she did or did not do to be extremely absurd.

It is not possible for me to commit violence against any woman, not just my brother's wife. I reject the accusations against me."

REACTION ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Reacting to the criminal complaint on his social media account, Hasan Basri Akşener noted the following:

"Today, I went to the police station to give a statement upon Meral Akşener's complaint. She had previously filed a non-pecuniary damages lawsuit against me through the civil court; I met this with understanding and said, 'It happens.'

However, as if that were not enough, she has now gone to the prosecutor's office and filed a criminal complaint alleging that I was planning an assassination against her. I ask, am I a PKK member? Am I a terrorist? Does the state not know who I am?

You have known me since I was 12 years old as your brother-in-law. What kind of violence have you seen from me from that day to this? Even the thought of such a thing is wrong. I may have been angry with you recently, but I showed great respect before. Unfortunately, I did not see this respect from you."