Church bell investigation follows 'Vahdettin' probe

Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer announced that an investigation has been launched against him over allegations that 14 years ago, during his time as the mayor of Seferihisar, he gave a bell belonging to a Greek church in front of the old municipal building to the Greek Consulate. 

Denying the allegation, Soyer stated that after being elected mayor of Seferihisar, he never used the old building and continued his duties in the new building.

"ANOTHER INVESTIGATION ARRIVED TODAY..."

Speaking on a Sözcü TV broadcast, Soyer said: "Another investigation arrived today; I would like to mention that. An allegation was made 14 years ago when I was the mayor of Seferihisar; it is something I have never seen or heard of. Another investigation was launched with the allegation that 'the bell belonging to a historical Greek church, which was used as an alarm bell in front of the municipal building and was displayed in front of the mayor's office, was given by me to the Greek Consulate without notifying the relevant authorities.'"

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

An investigation had been launched by the Ministry of Interior against Tunç Soyer for criticizing the Ottoman Empire and the last sultan, Vahdettin, by quoting Atatürk during the 100th anniversary of the city's liberation from enemy occupation.

It was alleged that Soyer targeted the Ottoman Empire and its administrators, and committed the crimes of insulting the memory of a person and inciting the public to hatred and hostility.

In a letter sent by the Ministry of Interior's Civil Inspection Board to the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality on November 16, it was reported that an investigation had been launched regarding Soyer's speech on September 9. The inspectors had requested footage of Soyer's speech from the municipality.

The justification for the investigation was Soyer's words, in which he quoted Atatürk: “It was 100 years ago. Those who governed these lands were in a state of negligence, delusion, and even treason. They did not think of the youth, women, children, or the future at all. They threw an entire nation into the fire just to protect the reign in their palaces. They trampled on our human dignity, our passion for independence, and our right to life, and they surrendered.”

News Source: 12punto