Arrested mayor resigns from CHP! 'The party, by devouring its own children...'

Menderes Mayor İlkay Çiçek, who was arrested and subsequently suspended from his duties on charges of "establishing an organization" and "extortion," has resigned from the Republican People's Party (CHP).

Submitting his resignation letter to the CHP Headquarters, Çiçek made various claims regarding the investigation and arrest process conducted against him. Çiçek argued that the WhatsApp messages considered as evidence in the arrest decision were "fake WhatsApp messages whose authenticity has not been proven and which appear to have been produced within the same day."

Stating that he had previously applied to the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the messages in question, Çiçek expressed that an investigation was launched following his application on June 19, 2026. Çiçek alleged that his requests for the phone's IMEI information to be identified via the BTK (Information and Communication Technologies Authority), for the messages to be examined, and for an expert evaluation to be conducted were ignored.

Stating that the messages were included as evidence in the arrest file despite this, Çiçek claimed that a "preconceived perception of guilt" was created against him due to the content being reflected in the public eye.

Çiçek also reacted to being referred to the disciplinary board by the CHP Headquarters with a request for expulsion. Stating that his defense regarding the accusations against him was not taken, Çiçek argued that the party leadership took action without granting him the right to defense.

Çiçek used the following expressions in his resignation letter:

"I was detained in a dawn operation carried out in the early hours of 04.08.2026. Due to the confidentiality order on the file, I could not even learn the reason for my detention until my statement was taken. On 07.08.2026, I was arrested on charges of 'establishing an organization' and 'extortion.'

As the reason for the arrest, fake WhatsApp messages whose authenticity has not been proven and which appear to have been produced within the same day were shown. The investigation file opened with the petition I submitted to the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on 19.06.2026, the day I was blackmailed with these messages, was ignored. My requests for phone IMEI identification from the BTK, the analysis of the fake messages, and expert requests were not taken into account, but they were counted as evidence in the arrest file. Even more gravely, these fake messages were leaked to the public, creating a preconceived perception of guilt in society; my right not to be stigmatized and the presumption of innocence were disregarded.

In a process where my constitutionally guaranteed rights are ignored in this way, I was referred to the disciplinary board with a request for expulsion by the Headquarters of the Republican People's Party, to which I have given my years and carried out political struggle at every level, without even taking my defense regarding the accusations against me. Without being granted the right to defense, I was stigmatized this time by the party I have worked for.

While my party does not even grant me the right to defense, it is trying to clear its name by devouring its own children. I hope the arithmetic of the Menderes Municipal Council, which you established by taking into account me and the council members you have written off along with me, has not driven you to such an ambition to get closer to power that you disregard the will of the people of Menderes.

Know this: you will not be able to destroy the Republican People's Party in my heart. With the hope that the roof that collapsed today will be rebuilt on these lands tomorrow by the hands of those who labor, I RESIGN from the Republican People's Party. I respectfully submit that the necessary action be taken."

News Source: 12punto