Özgür Özel's statement on 'Narin Güran' and the 'sword oath': 'Extremely disturbing'

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel visited Anıtkabir on the occasion of his party's 101st anniversary. Following the visit, Özel answered questions from journalists regarding the current agenda.

EVALUATED THE PARTY CONGRESS PROCESS

Regarding the party congress process, Özel said, "In the statute congress we just left behind, we negotiated all the articles regarding how we will govern our party. I find the September 4-9 process very valuable. According to the article we proposed by consensus, September 4-9 will henceforth be celebrated as the founding week of the CHP. It will also be a very satisfying program in terms of content. We will be before you with a program where we will celebrate the last founding week that the CHP will spend in opposition."

'MAKING THE SPEECH AT AN IMAM HATIP ASSOCIATION IS EXTREMELY DISTURBING'

When asked about the 'lieutenants' sword oath' controversy, Özel said the following:

"You asked for an assessment of Mr. Erdoğan's remarks. Unfortunately, I am deeply saddened. A tradition was carried out at the Military Academy graduation. It was the sword-crossing and oath-taking ceremony that happens every year. The press has covered many of these. Mr. Erdoğan witnessed them. It is hard to understand where the discomfort with this text comes from this year. Yet this year should have been the year of greatest happiness. The top graduates of the land, naval, and air force academies are female lieutenants. This is a great source of pride. Mr. Erdoğan remained silent for 8 days, and 8 days later, he made a very unpleasant speech. I find it extremely disturbing that he made this speech at an Imam Hatip alumni association. Neither are Imam Hatip graduates enemies of the army, nor is the army anti-Imam Hatip. Both have their places at the constitutional level. If you try to portray them as rivals to each other, and if you remain silent for 8 days only to bring it up at an Imam Hatip meeting, you are saying, 'I want polarization, and this is the most suitable ground for it.' If Erdoğan thinks he will hold onto power through such polarization, he is mistaken."

NARİN GÜRAN MURDER

Regarding the Narin Güran murder, Özel said, "We have formed a delegation. They are heading to the region after this ceremony. We will follow the judicial process very closely. We extend our heartfelt thanks to those who searched for our Narin for 20 days, even in water up to their waists. We find the feudal statements we heard yesterday, which do not fit into a state of law, to be dangerous. We are going to the region, and we will stand by Narin and everyone who sheds tears for Narin until justice is served."