Tanju Özcan speaks clearly on the investigation opened against him: 'I am not regretful'
Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan said, "I am not regretful" regarding the investigation opened into the policies he implemented concerning Syrians. In his statement, Özcan noted that he ensured the departure of a large number of Syrians from Bolu, stating, "I protected the interests of the Turkish nation."
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Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan, in a YouTube program he attended, said, “I unlawfully revoked the business licenses of Syrians. They could have won if they had gone to the administrative court. When I saw they still hadn't left Bolu, I increased their water rates tenfold. This was also unlawful.”
INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED
Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç stated in a post on social media, “An investigation has been launched by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against the Mayor of Bolu due to his statements regarding the Syrians in our country.”
‘I HAVE NO REGRETS’
Tanju Özcan, who is under investigation, made statements on his X social media account. Arguing that he has no regrets for his actions, Özcan used the following expressions:
"I have learned that an investigation has been launched against me by the Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, upon the instruction of Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç, on the grounds that I revoked the business licenses of Syrian and Iraqi refugees in 2019, removed Arabic signs, and increased water and marriage fees to encourage them to leave the city.
Yes, I did these things, and I achieved results. Currently, only a handful of Syrians and Iraqis remain in Bolu. After what I did, children in Bolu can go to parks and their schools without fear. Our women and girls in Bolu are not subjected to harassment by refugees. None of our shopkeepers live in fear of whether refugee gangs will demand protection money from them.
I gave my word, I did it, and I have no regrets. I have committed no crime other than protecting the interests of the Turkish nation. BRING IT ON!!
Furthermore, if the Minister of Justice is looking for a crime, he should also open an investigation into those who praise the terrorist leader and invite him to parliament."