'Tape' tension between CHP's Ali Mahir Başarır and AKP's Özlem Zengin: With dirty perceptions

The debate that began after footage was released to the public showing cameras being taped over by bodyguards and suitcases containing jammers during a hotel visit by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has moved to the Parliamentary General Assembly. 

A debate over "jammers" and "camera taping" broke out between CHP Group Deputy Chair Ali Mahir Başarır and AKP Group Deputy Chair Özlem Zengin, following Başarır's reaction to AKP deputies including the footage in their one-minute speeches.       

"THEY SHOULD NOT ACCUSE ANYONE WITH DIRTY PERCEPTIONS"

Reacting to the speeches of the AKP deputies, Başarır said: 

"Some of our deputy colleagues are creating perceptions on subjects they know nothing about, like reporters for A Haber. With information obtained from files by A Haber, which is close to the government, millions of dollars' worth of cars alleged to belong to Murat Kapki, and 15 of these cars, were broadcast on television, and the prosecutor's office impounded these cars in a parking lot. It turned out that half of these cars belonged to a deputy in the People's Alliance.

They should not accuse anyone with dirty perceptions created without knowing or hearing. The presumption of innocence has been trampled upon. The investigation began on October 18, while the hotel footage is from the first week of October. Does the police, the state, or the Ministry of Interior in this country listen to people without an investigation? The footage is from 12 days ago... The Minister of Interior says, 'I do not use jammers.' You are the one listening; are you going to listen to yourself? But you are conducting technical and physical surveillance on people without a court order. The one committing the illegality here is himself.”

"YOU ARE TRYING TO TAPE THE MOUTHS OF 600 DEPUTIES"

AKP's Zengin, stating that opposition deputies were not using their one-minute speeches effectively, conveyed her view that one-minute speeches should be abolished entirely and a new formula should be found.

"Regarding the 'jammer' debate, Zengin stated that it might be appropriate for the Batman Provincial Special Administration to use jammers on the grounds that it is a terror zone, and said, 'Your own Chairman said, regarding the taping, 'This is security, this is police.' This is not police; it is the private security there. These friends are doing a practice that has no application anywhere. I have been in politics for so many years, and I have never seen anyone go and tape something somewhere. Furthermore, in a place where everyone is being watched and it is even clear what is happening on our phones, what are we going to tape? One needs to separate your Chairman's statements into before and after the Silivri visit. He receives a warning from there, and a new response is developed based on that. Because Mr. İmamoğlu wants to be everything. Even though he is not a presidential candidate, he wants to be a candidate; he wants to be President without ever wanting to be the İBB Mayor. Moreover, he acts as if he is the Chairman of the CHP. Which duty does he want to perform?'"

Reacting to Zengin, who stated that one-minute speeches should be abolished entirely, Başarır said, “The powers, duties, and rights of the Parliament have already been reduced to nothing. You are making camera tape accusations against some, and you are trying to tape the mouths of 600 deputies. This is despotism. Why are you talking via WhatsApp? Because you know that you are being listened to as well,” he said.