Sezgin Tanrıkulu visits İmamoğlu
During his visit to Ekrem İmamoğlu and imprisoned mayors at the Marmara Prison in Silivri, CHP's Sezgin Tanrıkulu emphasized that the functioning of the rule of law in Turkey has changed significantly, noting that people are being sent to prison before any criminal allegations are even presented.
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Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Turkish Grand National Assembly's Human Rights Investigation Commission, Sezgin Tanrıkulu, made statements to the press following his contacts at the Marmara Prison in Istanbul. During his visit, Tanrıkulu met with Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, as well as various other mayors and politicians.
Tanrıkulu stated that the Marmara Prison is a massive complex that houses both Europe's largest courtroom and thousands of detainees and convicts, and made the following remarks:
“This is a place that holds not only those arrested due to IMM investigations, but also lawyers, activists, politicians, and numerous judicial inmates. The common complaint of everyone here is that they are not being tried fairly.”
Tanrıkulu drew attention to the fact that indictments for mayors recently sent to prison have been delayed for long periods. Noting that Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan has been waiting for an indictment to be prepared for more than nine months, Tanrıkulu stated that a similar process is being experienced regarding Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney. He added that the situation remains unchanged in the files of the mayors from the Gaziosmanpaşa, Bayrampaşa, and Şile districts.
“They are all going through similar processes. The number of suspects in the files reaches six or seven, but the indictments are never prepared and submitted to the court,” Tanrıkulu said.
In his assessment, Tanrıkulu leveled harsh criticisms at the judicial system, noting the following:
"The system in Turkey has changed. Now, people are put in prison first, and then the allegations are written. There is no need even to prove the allegations. A whistleblower is found; the convenient one says whatever is wanted anyway. People are forced to prove their innocence, but even if they do, the possibility of being released or not receiving a sentence is eliminated.
We know all of this, we are following all of it, and we are aware of all of it. Let it also be known very well; we will not forget this period. Within the rules of law, we will hold those responsible for this oppression and cruelty to account in a fair manner. Have no doubt about it. Do not be hopeless either."