Striking statement from Özgür Çelik regarding the operation at Bayrampaşa Municipality: 'Threatened with death'

Following the operation at Bayrampaşa Municipality on charges of "extortion," "bribery," "qualified fraud," and "rigging a tender," CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik stated, "This operation is an attempt to seize Bayrampaşa Municipality." Claiming that CHP municipal council members were offered money and threatened with death, Çelik said, "Municipal council members were threatened with death via WhatsApp messages containing edits from the show Kurtlar Vadisi. These have been recorded in official statements."

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into Bayrampaşa Municipality for the crimes of "extortion," "bribery," "qualified fraud," and "rigging a tender." As part of the investigation, detention warrants were issued for 48 people, including Bayrampaşa Mayor Hasan Mutlu. Among those detained in simultaneous operations conducted by the Istanbul Police Department's Financial Crimes Investigation Branch were Deputy Mayors Atilla Özen, Hakan Baş, Lütfi Kadıoğulları, Gündüz Kalkan, and Legal Affairs Manager Bilgehan Yağcı.

Speaking in front of the Çağlayan Courthouse after the operation, Özgür Çelik said the following:

"This operation is an attempt to seize Bayrampaşa Municipality. CHP council members have been offered money. Council members are being threatened with death.

"Municipal council members were threatened with death via WhatsApp messages containing edits from the show Kurtlar Vadisi. These have been recorded in official statements. Hasan Mutlu received phone calls in the last 10 days. They said, 'Switch to the AKP, or an operation will be conducted against you.'

Hasan Mutlu did not switch. He was detained on Saturday; the phone call was made on Friday. One of the people currently here with us witnessed this. They said, 'An operation will be conducted against you tomorrow, switch to the AKP.' Eight council members are currently waiting. The remaining council members are being threatened.

Blackmail is being used, and money is being offered. In the courthouse corridors, there is talk about how much money was offered. This is a seizure operation. On March 31, the people of Bayrampaşa made a decision. An operation is being conducted against a mayor elected by the public's vote. They are trying to seize the municipality by attempting to change the council majority.

The elected mayor of Bayrampaşa is Hasan Mutlu. The judges making the decision should know these facts. Hasan Mutlu must be released and return to his post."