The iconic figure of the March 19 operations speaks out: He explained the details of the photo in the hospital
Murat Çalık, one of the iconic figures of the March 19 operations, explained the story behind the photo taken in prison that became etched in memory.
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As part of the operations carried out on March 19, 2025, Beylikdüzü Mayor Murat Çalık was detained along with many other mayors, including Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. An arrest warrant was issued for them on March 23. Çalık, who has survived cancer twice and suffers from serious health problems, was transferred from Silivri to İzmir without justification. The photo taken while he was being taken out of prison during the operation became a symbol of the process and was etched in memory.
“FORENSIC MEDICINE REPORTS WOUNDED THE PUBLIC CONSCIENCE”
Speaking to Halktv, Çalık reacted to the obstruction of his right to meet with his family during his detention. He stated that the report prepared by the Council of Forensic Medicine without knowing the prison conditions wounded the public conscience:
“Even if I am a detainee, I have the right to meet with my family in a transparent and humane manner. When this right is obstructed, it harms not only me but also the conscience of society.”
Evaluating why he was not released despite medical reports, Çalık drew attention to the importance of the equal application of the law:
“The fundamental principle of law is equality; applying it differently to one person than to another damages trust in justice. My situation is a test of whether the law is applied equally to everyone in this country.”
APPLICATION TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT
Having exhausted all domestic legal remedies, Çalık filed an individual application to the Constitutional Court. He said, “My case is not just my own, but the case of millions who are seeking justice. This application is a test of our belief in the rule of law.”
Çalık stated that he received numerous letters and messages during his detention:
“I received thousands of letters, but the ones from children affect me the most deeply. The lines from a small child saying, ‘Mr. Mayor, let’s open our park together when you get out,’ give me hope and remind me of my responsibility.”
TELLING THE TRUTH IS MY DUTY
When asked whether he was forced to become a whistleblower during the process, Çalık replied, “My path has always been to tell the truth and protect the interests of my state. I have never resorted to slander, and I will not do so in the future.”