Lawsuit filed for 'insulting a public official' against individual who called Ahmet Özer a 'PKK member'

CHP Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer, who was detained in a dawn operation on allegations of "being a member of the PKK/KCK armed terrorist organization," was arrested on October 30, 2024.

It has emerged that a lawsuit has been filed against Erkan Çakır, the former head of the CHP Muş Youth Branch, who called Özer a "PKK member" during the election period.

According to a report by Furkan Karabay from Duvar, former CHP Muş Youth Branch head Erkan Çakır made posts about Ahmet Özer on his X (Twitter) account during the election period, prior to the operation.

In his posts, Çakır stated, "Ahmet Özer, the candidate appointed by Ekrem İmamoğlu to Esenyurt, is a PKK supporter; Ahmet Özer is a PKK member. Note that I am not saying he is from the DEM Party, I am saying he is a PKK member." Çakır's remarks were also reported by the pro-government newspaper Sabah.

Following the posts, the Mersin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation. The prosecutor's office alleged that Çakır's statements constituted the crime of "insulting a public official due to their duty."

In the indictment prepared on February 17, a prison sentence of one to two years was requested for Çakır.

FIRST STATEMENT FROM ERKAN ÇAKIR

Making a statement on his X account following the investigation, Çakır said, "This is the indictment prepared against me at the Mersin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Now I ask the public: Why was former Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer removed from office? Why is he currently in prison, and who is he connected to? I do not accept this indictment prepared against me."

This is the indictment prepared against me at the Mersin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. Now I ask the public: Why was former Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer removed from office? Why is he currently in prison, and who is he connected to? I do not accept this indictment prepared against me.. @MersinValiligi… pic.twitter.com/QXnFdDgWxI

— erkan çakır (@erknckr49) March 3, 2025

INVESTIGATION INTO CHP CONGRESS FOLLOWING ÇAKIR'S ALLEGATIONS

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had previously launched an investigation into the CHP's 38th Ordinary Congress, held at the Ankara Sports Hall on November 4-5, 2023.

Erkan Çakır had made an X post on his social media account claiming that he possessed videos regarding CHP Bursa Provincial Chair Nihat Yeşiltaş and alleging that delegates had been sold.

Following the tweet, Yeşiltaş filed a criminal complaint against Çakır on charges of "insult via audio, written, or video message," and Erkan Çakır became a suspect. Upon reviewing the petition, the Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office noted that the subject of the congress was raised in the petition and sent the file to Ankara citing a lack of jurisdiction.

News Source: 12punto