AKP's Külünk issues striking Akın Gürlek warning over Epözdemir controversy: 'This is our call to President Erdoğan'

Külünk, claiming "there is panic in certain circles in Ankara" over the investigation into lawyer Rezan Epözdemir — who was detained and had his detention extended on allegations of "bribery," "political-military espionage," and "aiding FETÖ" — asked: "Will this person's identity as a lawyer and the communication network he established in Ankara and Istanbul eliminate the judiciary's right to ask these questions?"

Alleging that Epözdemir has refused to provide his phone password, Külünk said: "By withholding his phone password, who is he protecting? Where do those being protected get the right to engage in pressure — and conduct beyond pressure — targeting Çağlayan Courthouse Chief Prosecutor Akın Gürlek? Or is the content of that phone being used as blackmail material against you?"

A series of statements from AKP figures followed the investigation into lawyer Rezan Epözdemir, who was detained and had his detention extended on allegations of "bribery," "political-military espionage," and "aiding FETÖ." Former AKP MP Şamil Tayyar said Epözdemir had "persistently refused to provide his mobile phone password," while also claiming that "a large number of 'influential' figures are involved," including Presidential Chief Adviser Mehmet Uçum.

Following Şamil Tayyar's post, former AKP MP Metin Külünk also posted about Epözdemir on his social media account. Claiming "there is panic in certain circles in Ankara," Külünk said: "Or is the content of that phone being used as blackmail material against you? Why are you pressuring for his release?"

Külünk said the following in his post:

"What is going on? Why this panic, why this alarm in certain circles in Ankara? Whether it is in lines close to the government — even at the very center of the government — or in the lines of the opposition… Why this panic? The aforementioned lawyer Rezan EPÖZDEMİR is being detained within the scope of a prosecutorial investigation based on strong suspicion, information, documents, and evidence.

We ask: Starting from the fact that there is information, documents, and evidence pointing to strong criminal suspicion, and that the judiciary's right to ask 'What is this?' is a fundamental principle of law… Will this person's identity as a lawyer and the communication network he established in Ankara and Istanbul eliminate the judiciary's right to ask these questions? He is not providing his phone password… Why is he afraid?

By withholding his phone password, who is he protecting? Where do those being protected get the right to engage in pressure — and conduct beyond pressure — targeting Çağlayan Courthouse Chief Prosecutor Akın Gürlek? Take your hands off Akın Gürlek! If you have the courage, do not take a single step to obstruct the continuation of this investigation within a fair justice system. You are cowards!

Because you are the ones who are afraid of the phone password being handed over to the judiciary. Or is the content of that phone being used as blackmail material against you? Why are you pressuring for his release? And then you turn around and try to pressure the chief prosecutor — from the seats you occupy, leveraging your disputed power…

We say it plainly: You are the ones causing the greatest harm to @tcbestepe @RTErdogan. You are trying to obstruct the investigation because you fear the dismantling of the arrangements you have built — having severed the AK Party movement from the streets and declared your own fiefdom from the seats you have seized. Stay in your seats! This is our open call to our President @RTErdogan: Those who are trying to pressure Akın Gürlek over the ongoing investigation are the very same people who are trying to isolate you.

News Source: 12punto