Statement from lawyer Hüseyin Ersöz: The Constitution, rights, and freedoms have been violated

The detention of IMM President Ekrem İmamoğlu and the total of 106 people detained in operations conducted in the early morning hours have stirred Turkey. Following the detentions, politicians and citizens described the events as a coup. Lawyer Hüseyin Ersöz held a press conference in front of the Şişli Municipality building and emphasized that the Constitution has been violated.

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Statement from lawyer Hüseyin Ersöz: The Constitution, rights, and freedoms have been violated

Hüseyin Ersöz, the lawyer for Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan, stated that they are facing an investigation process that unlawfully casts a shadow over the right to a fair trial, and that they are following the process closely.

Ersöz said, "It must be stated that such an operation carried out against a mayor in the early hours of the morning has an unlawful nature and that this action taken against an elected mayor points to a controversial process that must be questioned in the eyes of the law and legal security."

Underlining that Istanbul has become a completely unlivable city due to the operations carried out at many locations and that they, as lawyers, could not reach their clients during this process, Hüseyin Ersöz said, "We encountered difficulties in providing legal assistance. We are unfortunately deeply concerned about where an investigation process conducted under such extraordinary conditions will evolve."

Following the detention procedures in the morning hours, which included IMM President Ekrem İmamoğlu and Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan, many citizens gathered in front of the Şişli Municipality service building.

Led by Şişli Municipal Council members, CHP Şişli District President Tamer Özcanlı, CHP Party Assembly members, and the CHP Şişli district organization held a press conference in front of the Şişli Municipality. The statement was delivered by Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan's lawyer, Hüseyin Ersöz. Ersöz emphasized that they are facing an investigation process that is unlawful, violates fundamental rights and freedoms in the Constitution, and casts a shadow over the right to a fair trial.

“OUR LAWYER COLLEAGUES ARE CLOSELY FOLLOWING THIS PROCESS”

Ersöz said, "You are all following it closely. Along with our Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality President Ekrem İmamoğlu, our Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan has also been detained. Search and seizure operations were carried out at their homes. Currently, their health checks have been completed and they have been taken to the Istanbul Police Department on Vatan Street. From the very beginning, from the moment the search and seizure operations took place in the morning, our lawyer colleagues have been following this process. And they are doing their best to provide the necessary legal support regarding this matter. However, I would also like to note that our lawyer colleagues were not allowed into the search and seizure operations that took place at Resul Emrah Şahan's home, which casts a shadow over the right to a fair trial, and that his right to receive legal assistance was taken away from him. This entire process essentially has a nature that has been kept on the public agenda for a few weeks, constantly raising the question of 'when will these detentions take place?'"

“WE WILL PROVIDE THE NECESSARY UPDATES REGARDING THE UNLAWFUL PROCESS”

Mayor Şahan's lawyer Ersöz stated regarding the unlawful process, "In this context, we will provide the necessary updates from time to time regarding this unlawful process carried out against Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan. However, I want you to know that there is a 24-hour restriction on meeting with a lawyer in the file, and that we will not be able to reach our client, the Mayor, for 24 hours, and we will not be able to meet with him."

“WE WILL TAKE LEGAL INITIATIVES BEFORE THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE”

Hüseyin Ersöz continued his speech as follows:

It must be stated that such an operation carried out against a mayor in the early hours of the morning has an unlawful nature and that this action taken against an elected mayor points to a controversial process that must be questioned in the eyes of the law and legal security. We will, of course, follow this process. We will take all legal initiatives regarding this matter before the prosecutor's office. However, based on previous examples, it is necessary to make an assessment that, unfortunately, all these processes bring with them a series of violations of the right to a fair trial, such as preventing lawyers from accessing evidence, illegalities during the interrogation process, and violations of the law during search and seizure operations.

Currently, with operations carried out at nearly 100 points almost everywhere in Istanbul, Istanbul has become a completely unlivable city. And in this process, even we lawyers encountered difficulties in reaching our clients and providing legal assistance. We are unfortunately deeply concerned about where an investigation process conducted under such extraordinary conditions will evolve. However, it must be stated that, no matter what, the Republic of Turkey is a state of law where legal security is fundamental. We will continue to defend legal security and the rule of law against anyone who tries to undermine it."

News Source: 12punto