Lawyers had filed a request: Yılmaz Tunç makes statement on release for Murat Çalık

CHP Beylikdüzü Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık, who was detained along with İBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu as part of an investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on March 19 into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality on allegations of corruption and terrorism, was arrested and sent to prison on March 23.

Çalık, who was being held at Silivri Prison, had been transferred to İzmir Buca Prison despite all objections filed.

Çalık's lawyers have filed a request for his release, citing his health condition as the reason. 

In their statement regarding the matter, his lawyers said, "The client, who has undergone cancer treatment twice in the past, was issued a discharge certificate stating he could not even perform his military service due to these illnesses, and has lost 15 kilograms recently, faces an increased vital risk under prison conditions. Prison conditions are not suitable for his health status, and measures must be taken before irreversible consequences occur."

“CONTINUATION OF DETENTION HAS REACHED A POINT OF VITAL RISK”

The joint statement signed by Attorney Dr. Fatih Selami Mahmutoğlu, Attorney Melih Koçhan, and Attorney Cihan Ünal is as follows:

"As the public has been closely following, Mehmet Murat Çalık has been in detention since March 23, 2025. However, our client's serious health problems, including the acute leukemia and lymphoma he has battled twice in the past, as well as the rapid weight loss and thyroid disorder he is currently experiencing, indicate that the continuation of his detention has reached a point that poses a vital risk.

Mehmet Murat Çalık is an individual who was exempted from military service by the Turkish Armed Forces due to the severe illnesses he suffered. According to evaluations made by specialist physicians, the approximately 15-kilogram weight loss he has experienced since the date of his arrest has significantly increased the risk of his illnesses recurring, especially due to the inadequate conditions in the prison environment. Considering the client's age, it is clear that he will face a life-threatening situation if the disease re-emerges. For these reasons, we applied to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on June 17, 2025, and requested our client's release in accordance with Article 103 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Prison conditions are not suitable for his health status, and measures must be taken before irreversible consequences occur.

Within the framework of the fundamental principles of law and respect for human rights, it would be the most just solution to release Mehmet Murat Çalık by applying judicial control measures, taking his health condition into account."

STATEMENT FROM YILMAZ TUNÇ

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç, in a statement to journalists before the AKP group meeting, said that Çalık's request for release would be evaluated.

News Source: 12punto