Message from imprisoned Ahmet Özer: 'Baseless, empty file...'

Republican People's Party (CHP) Eskişehir Deputy Utku Çakırözer visited CHP Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer, who was replaced by a government-appointed trustee, as well as Gezi Park trial convicts Can Atalay, Tayfun Kahraman, Osman Kavala, Mine Özerden, and Çiğdem Mater at the Marmara and Bakırköy prisons.

"I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 50 DAYS DUE TO A BASELESS FILE..."

Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer, who has completed his 50th day in prison, said, "I have been here for 50 days because of a completely empty, baseless file. By keeping me here, they are preventing services to Esenyurt and punishing the people of Esenyurt. I am waiting for my indictment to arrive as soon as possible so I can appear before a judge."

The Gezi Park trial convicts told Çakırözer that they expect the Constitutional Court to handle the file pending before it fairly and as soon as possible, and to overturn this injustice.

Making statements after his visits, CHP's Çakırözer said, "Turkey will not reach enlightenment by keeping elected mayors, elected deputies, and the country's brightest minds in dungeons. Turkey must rid itself of this shame. The political prisoners held in jail must regain their freedom as soon as possible."

"A COMPLETELY BASELESS, EMPTY FILE..."

In the message he sent through Çakırözer, Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer stated the following:

"There are trustees in 6 other municipalities. None of them are imprisoned. I am not saying they should be arrested, but there is a great injustice and lawlessness against us. I have written 38 books and 200 articles. Ahmet Özer is a scientist. At that time, some figures in the government spoke with me about the resolution of the Kurdish issue." 

We had put our minds together for a peaceful resolution to this issue. Now, I have been in prison for exactly 50 days due to a completely baseless, empty file. I am not a person who would flee. By keeping me here, they are obstructing the services to be provided to Esenyurt and punishing the people of Esenyurt through me. I am waiting for my indictment to be issued as soon as possible and to appear before a judge."

"THERE IS A MAJOR COUP AGAINST THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE"

In his statement in front of the prison, Çakırözer said the following:

"The elected mayor of Esenyurt, Turkey's largest district, Republican People's Party (CHP) Esenyurt Mayor Prof. Dr. Ahmet Özer, has been held in Silivri Prison for exactly 50 days, unjustly and unlawfully! Ahmet Özer has written dozens of books and hundreds of articles on the resolution of the Kurdish issue in Turkey, the end of terrorism, and the establishment of social peace. He is a figure whom ministers and prime ministers have thanked and whose views they have sought. Now, he is being held here in prison on allegations of being linked to terrorism. Meanwhile, the will of hundreds of thousands of Esenyurt residents is being seized through a trustee coup, and they are trying to govern Esenyurt. There is a great injustice here, a major coup against democracy and the will of the people."

I met with him. Inside, he is spending all his energy on the projects he wants to carry out for Esenyurt and Istanbul once he is released. It is impossible not to be impressed when he describes what he has done for Esenyurt since the election. He talked about all the social projects, soup kitchens, asphalt works, and aid to those in need. He explained that he is determined to add new ones, and that this is precisely why he was put in prison. We say that the will of the people cannot be overthrown by a trustee." 

We had put our minds together for a peaceful resolution to this issue. Now, I have been in prison for exactly 50 days due to a completely baseless, empty file. I am not a person who would flee. By keeping me here, they are obstructing the services to be provided to Esenyurt and punishing the people of Esenyurt through me. I am waiting for my indictment to be issued as soon as possible and to appear before a judge."

"THERE IS A MAJOR COUP AGAINST THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE"

In his statement in front of the prison, Çakırözer said the following:

"The elected mayor of Turkey's largest district, Esenyurt, Republican People's Party (CHP) Esenyurt Mayor Prof. Dr. Ahmet Özer, has been unjustly and unlawfully imprisoned in Silivri Prison for exactly 50 days! Ahmet Özer has written dozens of books and hundreds of articles on the resolution of the Kurdish issue in Turkey, the end of terrorism, and the establishment of social peace. He is a figure whom ministers and prime ministers have thanked and whose opinions they have sought. Now, he is being held here in prison on allegations of being linked to terrorism. Meanwhile, the will of hundreds of thousands of Esenyurt residents has been seized through a trustee coup, and they are attempting to govern Esenyurt this way. There is a great injustice here, a major blow to democracy and the will of the people."

I met with him. Inside, he is spending all his energy on the projects he wants to carry out for Esenyurt and Istanbul once he is released. It is impossible not to be impressed when he describes what he has done for Esenyurt since the election. He talked about the social projects, soup kitchens, asphalt works, and aid to those in need. He explained that he is determined to add new ones, and that this is precisely why he was put in prison. We say that the will of the people cannot be overthrown by a trustee. 

Our call from here is this: their files are before the Constitutional Court. The file has been before the Constitutional Court for exactly 1.5 years. To date, the lower court, the appellate court, and the Court of Cassation have not eliminated this lawlessness and injustice. The Constitutional Court must now put a stop to this; if it does not, the European Court of Human Rights may later reveal that the Constitutional Court is no longer a valid point of appeal in Turkey. 

Saving Turkey from this shame, from the shame of the Gezi trial, is before the Constitutional Court. It must seize this opportunity and save Turkey from this disgrace. It must save these people from this injustice and lawlessness. The Constitutional Court must put an end to this massacre of the law."