Özgür Özel speaks at his party's parliamentary group meeting: 'I salute Gezi with the spirit of freedom and solidarity'

CHP leader Özgür Özel made statements at his party's parliamentary group meeting.

Özgür Özel made the following remarks in his statement:

"We will continue to defend our foreign policy. We are the main opposition party in Turkey, but we are Turkey's party abroad, and more importantly, we are the ruling party that will govern Turkey in the future. In my speech at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on April 17, I expressed the tension between Azerbaijan and the Council and the injustice suffered by Azerbaijan, and we wanted to do our part in this regard. It is an instructive process for both sides. It resulted in Azerbaijan's withdrawal from the Council. From here, we once again call out to both sides as the CHP for the re-representation of our friendly and brotherly Azerbaijan in Europe.

ISRAELI ATTACKS

Since October 7, Israel's attacks on Gaza have caused the deaths of 36 thousand people, most of whom are women and children. Despite the International Court of Justice's decision to 'stop the attacks,' a tent camp in the Rafah region was bombed, and 40 more Gazans lost their lives. I condemn this massacre by Israel once again. I invite all countries of the world to condemn Palestine. I had previously written a letter to 119 of our political relatives, asking 24 prime ministers and presidents who are in power in their countries to recognize Palestine. Today, I am very happy to know that Norway and Spain, as well as Ireland, which are governed by our political relatives, will recognize Palestine and that this will be announced today.

GEZI PARK CASE

Today is the 11th anniversary of the Gezi Park protests, one of the most widely attended and peaceful demonstrations in Turkey's history. This movement, which began with the coming together of sensitive citizens who opposed the artillery barracks planned to be built in Gezi Park, took place to object to interventions in lifestyles in the name of social sensitivity and environmental protection. I salute Gezi with the spirit of freedom and solidarity.

I would like to state that Tayfun Kahraman, Can Atalay, Çiğdem Mater, and Osman Kavala are still imprisoned. As I expressed in my meeting with Mr. Bahçeli, the detention of our friends constitutes a violation of rights and is contrary to the Constitution. I expressed in my meetings with Erdoğan and Bahçeli that this should be resolved quickly.

Mr. Bahçeli said, "Sensitivity to Gezi, the sensitivities of society, a lover of dictatorship who does not observe these sensitivities to Erdoğan." Today, both of them call Gezi a coup attempt, and our friends, each of whom has been acquitted at least 3 times after the events that took place, are being held inside.

Tayfun Kahraman, Mine Özerden, Can Atalay, Çiğdem Mater, and Osman Kavala are each being held in prison in place of each of us. Their captivity must end.

ILIÇ MINE DISASTER

As a result of the landslide that occurred at the gold mine in İliç, Erzincan on February 13, 9 of our citizens lost their lives; the bodies of 4 have been reached, and search efforts continue for 5. Despite the statement by Minister of Environment and Urbanization Murat Kurum that "I do not have a signature on the documents," it was determined that the EIA positive report on October 6, 2021, was given with the approval of the Minister and the signature of Murat Kurum. The failure to evacuate the personnel in the field due to inadequate warning systems against the risk of landslides and the lack of an emergency action plan was considered a primary fault.

CURRENCY PROTECTED DEPOSIT (KKM) SYSTEM

The Ministry of Treasury announced that it has established a tip line to detect tax evaders. The Ministry asks citizens to share information via WhatsApp. This situation may create hesitation in some. Do we really need the public's tip-offs to find tax evaders? Now I am addressing my consultant friends from here, I am saying it directly from here instead of WhatsApp: If we really want to find tax evaders, we should look at who forgave the 660 billion lira tax of the wealthy last year; because the real culprit who evades taxes is there.

President Erdoğan stated in his speech yesterday that wealth inequality is increasing worldwide and that there is a major transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich. I leave this situation to everyone's conscience. Last year, with the 1.2 trillion lira Currency Protected Deposit, it was said, "I have money, I will buy dollars, 'don't buy dollars, put it in interest, what if it doesn't come enough?' Don't worry, put your money here, the exchange rate guarantee is on me, if it goes up, I will pay the difference." Where will this money be paid from? From the pocket of the poor. As Mr. Erdoğan said, with this practice, it was taken from the poor and given to the rich. Whoever is behind the KKM, which carried out the largest transfer of funds from the poor to the rich in world history, is also the one who eats the rights of the people.

'STREET ANIMALS' BILL

We have a clear stance regarding the security concerns experienced with stray dogs. It is unacceptable for citizens, especially those going to the mosque or school early in the morning, to experience security problems, and this problem needs to be solved. However, I am speaking clearly to those who want to kill these dogs: In 2020, the animal rights protection commission, to which all political parties contributed, carried out work. In the report prepared as a result of these studies, suggestions such as killing or culling are not included among the methods of reducing the animal population. This report bears the signatures of both the AK Party and the MHP. Therefore, all parties have a common view on protecting the right to life of stray dogs."