CHP Chairman Özgür Özel visits imprisoned Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer: He called out Akın Gürlek!

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel visited Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer, who was removed from office and replaced by a trustee, at Silivri Prison where he is being held in custody.

CHP leader Özgür Özel and his delegation arrived at Silivri Prison in two vehicles at 08:15.

Stating that "the method of accusation and trial initiated by FETÖ members continues," Özgür Özel noted that dozens of opposition figures, including Ahmet Özer, are being held in the same prison solely because of their views, and spoke as follows:

"I had to visit an opinion leader, an academic, and a mayor. In this prison, people like Tayfun Kahraman, Nasuh Mahruki, Can Atalay, Osman Kavala, and Selçuk Kozağaçlı, whose only 'crime' is breathing life into the struggle for rights in this country, are being held here due to their opposition stance.

'I WAS ABLE TO VISIT AFTER 1 MONTH'

This visit is one that, unfortunately, could only be made after 1 month. I had previously visited İlker Başbuğ in this prison while he was being held on charges of being a terrorist organization leader. I had visited MHP deputy Engin Alan and Mehmet Haberal. At that time, they were all 'terrorists.' After the coup attempt, Erdoğan said about the cases we called 'setups' at the time, 'They set a setup for our national army.'

A MEMBER OF THE PARTY FOR 16 YEARS

The prosecutor changes, the names change, but the same structure continues. Those who set up those traps are now here for attempting a coup against the state. They are paying the price for making arrests based on fake evidence brought against them. Those who act with FETÖ-style setups will face the same end. They will either flee or pay the price for what they did here.

We have seen the end of those who broke down the municipality door with a sledgehammer, those who opened the investigation with one piece of evidence on the first day, and when that evidence fell through, tried to fill the gaps with secret witnesses. When the day comes for those who go outside the law, even the law cannot stand behind them."

Stating that Ahmet Özer has been a CHP member for 15 years, Özel conveyed his words: "He has been a member of the party for 15-16 years. He has been a parliamentary candidate, a Party Assembly candidate, and ultimately a mayor, yet he has been thrown into prison on charges of membership in a terrorist organization. He says, 'I have worked with 3 chairmen, and I have been against terrorism my entire life.'"

'THE CREATED PERCEPTION OPERATION IS HUMILIATING'

Reminding that Ahmet Özer was called upon many times by members of the government to give presentations, Özgür Özel continued:

"Cemil Çiçek, Süleyman Soylu, Naci Bostancı, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called me for this, and I gave presentations for hours. He asks, 'When did I become a terrorist?' We all know that Ahmet Özer is innocent. The perception operation created is humiliating. Being woken up by police and taken into custody is humiliating. The file is secret to Ahmet Özer and his lawyers, but open to the press."

HE CALLED OUT AKIN GÜRLEK

Özgür Özel also drew attention to the role of Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek in the operations. Özel said, "Enemy criminal law is being applied to Ahmet Özer. Mussolini's pre-execution trial is being applied." He continued, "Akın Gürlek, you will serve as much as your crime allows. The day will come when I will stand tall here again, and who knows which social media account you will be attacking us from. If you were to be subjected to an injustice, we would defend your rights too. I am warning you: do not play with the fate of a country, do not be someone's tool."

'WRITE THE INDICTMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE'

Stating that the indictment should be completed as soon as possible, Özgür Özel described how the judge did not even allow Ahmet Özer to finish his first sentence at the hearing where his detention was evaluated, with these words:

"Write the indictment as soon as possible, let the panel review the file, and let us prove our innocence as soon as possible. This campus has dozens of these cases; give up on them. This should have been evaluated on the first month of Ahmet Özer's detention. It is a routine practice every 30 days. Ahmet Özer appeared before the judge on the screen for the hearing. The moment he started to speak, the judge said, 'We have decided to continue your detention.' He decided to continue the detention without even listening to his defense.

If the writing of this indictment is delayed, we will fight these matters through much more active legal and political channels. On one hand, you say 'freedom for Abdullah Öcalan,' and on the other, you conduct operations against mayors elected by Kurds just because they are Kurdish and appoint trustees. Our line is clear. We are in favor of peace, brotherhood, and an effective and transparent stance in favor of ending terrorism. We are in favor of solving this problem with a consensus that no one will object to. We are not part of any other plan, and we will not be."

Regarding the detention warrant issued for Osman Yalçın, who served as Deputy Mayor at Esenyurt Municipality, Özel said, "If they are trying to create a new perception to continue the operation in Esenyurt, I don't know about that. They will present the evidence, and we will all be able to see it. The public will be satisfied. Is there anyone satisfied with the process Ahmet Özer is going through? This entire process is part of the political roadmap of Devlet Bahçeli and Erdoğan."