Sinem Dedetaş sends a striking message from prison: If I had wanted to, I wouldn't be here
Victory Party (Zafer Partisi) Chairman Ümit Özdağ visited imprisoned Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş and Babala TV founder Oğuzhan Uğur at the Çorlu Karatepe Prison. Following the visit, Özdağ relayed Dedetaş's message.
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Özdağ stated that Sinem Dedetaş also attributes her imprisonment to political motives and noted that she had previously rejected offers made to her.
Özdağ said, “We later met with Ms. Sinem (Dedetaş). Her morale is high. She said, ‘I know I am here for political reasons. The public is now aware of the offers made to me before I came here. If I had wanted to, I wouldn't be here, but I believe that a politician maintaining the mandate received from the voters at least until that term ends is a requirement of respect for the voter, and I think I am right and justified in the stance I have taken and the attitude I have adopted, and I am happy.’”
OĞUZHAN UĞUR: I KNOW I AM INNOCENT
Sharing the details of his meeting with Oğuzhan Uğur, Özdağ conveyed that Uğur evaluated his time in prison through the lens of his father's experiences.
Özdağ stated, “During our meeting with Mr. Oğuzhan (Uğur), he said, ‘Because my father fought against PKK terrorism throughout his entire life, he spent 5 years and 8 months in prison due to a conspiracy organized by the FETÖ terrorist and espionage organization, and he was acquitted. I cannot express complaints about my current situation, first and foremost because I would be ashamed before my father. I know I am innocent, and I believe the public also knows I am innocent. With that peace of mind, I am trying to spend my days here in the healthiest way possible.’ I found his morale to be high. I found his self-confidence to be high for the reason I stated.”
“THIS VISIT IS A DEMONSTRATION OF OUR COMMITMENT TO THE TENTH ARTICLE OF OUR CONSTITUTION”
Explaining the reason for the visit, Özdağ pointed to the 10th article of the Constitution, which regulates equality before the law.
Özdağ said, “We know that the phrase ‘Justice is the foundation of the state’ is unfortunately now just a wall inscription behind courts, rather than a state philosophy. And the struggle we are waging is a struggle to make justice the foundation of the state once again in politics and to re-establish the rule of law. The reason I carried out this visit here today is to demonstrate our commitment, as a party and as individuals, to the 10th article of our constitution. What should be is that we are all equal before the law, as expressed in the 10th article of the constitution, regardless of our ideas, opinions, political leanings, philosophy, party, or understanding. We are fighting for a Turkey where this principle is realized. We are waging a struggle to re-establish Atatürk's Turkey.”