Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer detained

Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer was detained at his home in the morning hours.

It was noted that the detention order was issued due to various investigations being conducted into the municipality in Esenyurt.

Searches were conducted at Özer's home and at the municipality.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that the investigation is aimed at identifying the members and activities of the PKK/KCK terrorist organization.

Özer was taken to the Vatan Police Headquarters as part of the detention.

ALLEGED TO HAVE SPOKEN 14 TIMES WITH INDIVIDUALS SOUGHT VIA RED NOTICE

The following statements were included in the statement regarding the matter from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office:

"Within the scope of the investigations conducted by our Chief Public Prosecutor's Office aimed at identifying the members and activities of the PKK/KCK terrorist organization;

Based on the evidence within our investigation file regarding the suspect Ahmet Özer, who currently serves as the Mayor of Esenyurt district in Istanbul; it is understood that there is strong suspicion of the crime of 'Being a Member of the PKK/KCK Armed Terrorist Organization' due to the suspect establishing an organic bond with the terrorist organization in a continuous and intense manner, considering the organizational documents seized from terrorist organization members and also delivered to the organization's executive cadre located in the Qandil region of Northern Iraq (the assessment that he was deemed suitable to be assigned to the so-called democratic autonomy project during a meeting held with terrorist organization leader Abdullah Öcalan on Imrali Island), the transcripts of conversations obtained as a result of the wiretapping measure applied to him, physical surveillance reports, and the contents of the examined account movements, as well as communication records showing 14 contacts with Remzi Kartal (Co-Chair of KONGRA-GEL - Member of the KCK Executive Council - one of the individuals sought via Red Notice) and contacts with (694) different unique individuals who have judicial records due to their affiliation with the aforementioned terrorist organization over a period of approximately 10 years;

In accordance with the decision obtained from the Istanbul Duty Criminal Judgeship of Peace, the suspect was apprehended and detained in line with the instructions given to the Istanbul Police Department's Counter-Terrorism Branch to search his residence, workplace, and vehicles, to seize criminal evidence, and to apprehend and detain the suspect as of 06:00 on October 30, 2024. Search operations are still ongoing."