CHP Leader Özel: Two things have no color; one, the color of a mother's tears; two, the color of a laborer's sweat

According to the statement made by the CHP, Chairman Özel paid a condolence visit to the family of Infantry Contracted Private Enis Budak, who was martyred in recent days during a clash with terrorists in northern Iraq, in Manisa.

In his statement following the visit, Özel recalled that a "provocation" occurred when he attended Budak's funeral, which saddened both the martyr's family and themselves, and noted the following:

"I wanted to visit our martyr's family in Manisa. Our martyr has 6 sisters and 1 brother. We met with them and offered our condolences. From now on, our martyr is the martyr of our Manisa and all of Turkey; he is the martyr of us all. This is a family we have been in contact with, met, and spoken to before. We will continue to closely follow the martyr's siblings and family from now on. They once again expressed their sadness regarding what happened. While this neighborhood and this family are experiencing their grief, neither Atatürk Neighborhood, nor our Manisa, nor true patriots and true nationalists are responsible for the actions of a group of provocateurs belonging to a political party brought in from outside the city, especially from the districts and neighboring provinces. What was done there was a deliberate effort by those who have political motives, who are trying to discredit us, and who specifically wanted to create a news story by discrediting us because the martyr was in Manisa, claiming, 'The main opposition leader was protested at a martyr's funeral in his own hometown.' But they barked up the wrong tree."

"NEITHER TURKEY WINS, NOR DO THEY WIN"

Wishing for the year 2024 to be a turning point, Özel said, "Whoever needs to take the first step to transform into a country that can unite in pain and sorrow and share in joy, let them take it. We are taking the first step."

Emphasizing that they will do their part to act as a whole in pain, sorrow, distress, and happiness, and to keep politics out of these matters, Özel assessed, "If everyone shows sensitivity in this regard, our beautiful country will emerge from these painful events with gains. If they insist on continuing the same way, neither Turkey wins, nor do they win."

Wishing for a 2024 where no pain is experienced and no mother sheds tears, Özel shared his views: "Two things have no color; one, the color of a mother's tears; two, the color of a laborer's sweat. I wish for a 2024 where no mother—whether Turk, Kurd, Alevi, or Sunni, no mother living in this country or in this world—sheds tears. I wish for a 2024 where the atrocities in Palestine stop. I wish for a 2024 without war or conflict. I wish for a 2024 full of peace and health."

"DID I APPOINT THAT TFF PRESIDENT, OR DO I SUPPORT HIM?"

In response to a question, CHP Chairman Özel stated the following:

"Did the opposition parties decide to hold the match between Turkey's two distinguished clubs in Saudi Arabia, which is hostile to Atatürk, during the 100th anniversary of the Republic? What kind of logic is it to take the biggest cup of the Republic's 100th anniversary to Saudi Arabia, which does not even visit Anıtkabir? Did I appoint that Minister, or that TFF President, or do I support them? Instead of sincerely apologizing and engaging in self-criticism, those who caused such a situation for Turkey are turning around and blaming the opposition again. What should the opposition do? Four months ago, I said, 'This match cannot be played there.' Three months ago, I said, 'Change the venue of this match.' Two months ago, I said, 'The right place for this match is the İzmir Atatürk Stadium.' If you take the match of Atatürk's two teams to the feet of a man who does not mention Atatürk's name, does not visit his tomb, cannot even tolerate our National Anthem, and greets Atatürk's soldiers in Arabic instead of saying 'Hello soldier' in his own language, this is what happens. And they are still blaming us. They are in a state of guilt complex. You are the reason for what happened there, you, Tayyip Erdoğan."

Regarding the fact that the CHP did not sign the joint declaration issued by the AK Party, MHP, İYİ Party, and Saadet Party concerning the terrorist attacks in northern Iraq where 12 soldiers were martyred, Özgür Özel also stated, "The CHP is a party with its own truths. We published the declaration we deemed correct on our own."