New statement on Murat Çalık's health: 'It has raised a strong suspicion'

Çalık was arrested on March 23 as part of an investigation into 'corruption' focused on the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), and on June 4, he announced his transfer from Silivri Prison to İzmir, stating, "This decision is not conscientious."

His lawyers had stated that Çalık had previously received cancer treatment twice, which was why he was unable to perform his military service, and that his vital risk had increased after losing 18 kilograms in prison.

On June 23, Çalık was transferred for the second time to the İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University Atatürk Training and Research Hospital. During the examinations there, a mass was detected in his neck, and Çalık underwent a PET-CT scan and was taken for emergency tomography twice.

Çalık had undergone two biopsies. Mayor Çalık's lawyer, Melih Koçhan, had previously pointed out in a statement that the surgical intervention that might be required following the samples taken, particularly from the neck area, carries very serious and permanent risks.

A new statement has been made regarding Çalık's health status. The statement included the following expressions:

“The examination process of Beylikdüzü Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık, which has been ongoing for approximately 10 days at the Hematology Department of İzmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, has revealed serious health findings, as the public has been closely following.

According to the results of the most recent bone marrow pathology, abnormal findings originating from the lymphatic system have been detected, and this situation has raised a strong suspicion regarding the risk of lymphoma (lymph cancer).

Based on this medical suspicion, physicians have stated that a biopsy must be taken via surgical intervention from the mass area in the neck, which had previously been noted in imaging reports.

This situation is not just a health issue; it is also an indicator of a vital risk that is irreversible and cannot be compensated for.

At this point, the responsibility for every step taken or not taken is heavy.

The high probability of the recurrence of the leukemia and lymphoma diseases that Çalık has overcome in the past makes it mandatory to start the treatment process without losing time.

However, the conditions of detention pose a major obstacle to the healthy execution of both the diagnostic and treatment processes.

It should not be forgotten that;

The latest examinations conducted at the hospital contain clear findings regarding the recurrence of Çalık's lymph cancer.

There is no compensation for this process.

There have been painful examples of this situation in the past that could open deep wounds in the public conscience.

As a requirement of justice and human dignity, Mehmet Murat Çalık's trial process should continue without detention, and his access to a comprehensive treatment process should be provided urgently.

We submit this to the conscience of the public and the mercy of the decision-making authorities.”