Özgür Çelik: We are going through days where winning a congress or an election is considered a crime

The first hearing of the case regarding the CHP's Istanbul Provincial Congress, held in 2023 and won byÖzgür Çelik, has concluded. Making a statement in front of the Marmara Prisonin Silivri after the hearing, CHP İstanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik stated that the lawsuitswere filed with political motivesandstating that, long detention periods and the failure to draft indictments were met with reaction, reiterating the demand fortrial without arrest and justice. Özgür Çelik said, "The Republican People's Party has been undera 360-degree attack for nearly a year."

Regarding the CHP congress held on October 8, 2023, and The Istanbul Provincial Congress won by Özgür Çelik was subject to alawsuit filed on the allegation of 'tampering with the vote' as defined in the Law on Political Parties,andthe first hearing of this case was held by the Istanbul 72nd Criminal Court of First Instance in courtroom No. 2 at the Marmara Prison Complex in Silivri. The hearing was adjourned until June 9.

At the conclusion of the hearing, CHP Group Deputy Chair Ali Mahir Başarır, CHP Deputy Chair Gül Çiftci, and CHP deputies Umut Akdoğan and Fethi Açkel, IMM Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan, CHP Youth Branch Chair Cem Aydın, CHP İstanbul Provincial Women's Branch Chair Hatice Selli Dursun, and other party members, a press conference was held.

CHP İstanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik stated that the hearing for the criminal case regarding the 38th Ordinary Istanbul Provincial Congress was held today, and that a total of 10 people, including himself, are being tried.he said. Çelik noted that the defensestatements lasted approximately 1 hourandthatmayors and districtchairsalsotestified at the hearing.

“WE ARE GOING THROUGH DAYS WHEN WINNING A CONGRESS OR AN ELECTION IS A CRIME”

Addressing the press and the public, Çelik stated that they have been in Silivri for nearly a year, noting that they were following the hearing alongside deputy chairmen, the group chairman, the deputy group chairman, members of parliament, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality deputy mayor, and their fellow comrades.she said. Stating that the trialis a criminal caseregarding the 38th Ordinary Istanbul Provincial Congress,Çelik said, “We are going through dayswhere winninga congress or an electionis considered a crime.”is considered a crime in these days we are going through. Being a member of the Republican People's Party is considered a crime in these days we are going through,” he said.

Çelik, in the year 2023Reminding that he was elected to the position ofIstanbul Provincial Chair on October 8,he noted that during the congressprocess, no objections were made to the district election boardwithin the 2-dayobjection period, and thatthroughout the ongoing process, no objections were filed with the YSK,which is the highest authority for both party elections and national elections.stated that it was not.

Questioning when the lawsuits regarding theIstanbulProvincial Congress were opened, Çelik noted thatapproximately 1.5 years after being elected,a large number of lawsuits were filed.stated.Stating that thefirst case was opened on March 19, 2025, Çelik pointed out that this datewas one day after thecancellation of the diploma of CHP's presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu,adding that the timing is significant.day after being taken intocustody, it has beendays,he stated. He noted that following these cases, a series of lawsuitswere filed regarding theprovincial congress, and that todaya criminal casehearing was held.

"CHP IS UNDER A 360-DEGREE ATTACK"

Arguing that the Republican People's Party (CHP) has been under a 360-degree attack for about a year, Çelik stated that the processbegan with the arrest of mayors.Remindingof the mayors of Beşiktaş and Beykoz, Çelik mentioned that on March 19,the presidential candidate, He stated that he was arrested 5 days before theprimary election ballotbox day.He expressed this.

Çelik noted that in the 2024 elections, under the leadership of CHPChairman Özgür Özel,the party achieved significant success.became Turkey's leading partyemphasizing that the bond established with society through municipalities is being targeted,he said. Arguing that this bondcould not be broken by operations against municipalities, Çelik stated that this time,attacksdirected at the party'sinstitutional identity have been put into effect.

“AN EFFORT TO DISCREDIT THROUGH TRUSTEE DEBATES AND LAWSUITS” Çelik, who pointed out that lawsuits were filed regarding the Istanbul Provincial Congress and CHP conventions, that a trustee was appointed to the Istanbul Provincial Presidency, and that the provincial building was raided by 5,000 police officers, stated that women and young people were dragged on the ground with tear gas and batons.

Çelik, who pointed out that lawsuits were filed regarding the Istanbul Provincial Congress and CHP conventions, that a trustee was appointed to the Istanbul Provincial Presidency, and that the provincial building was raided by 5,000 police officers, stated that women and young people were dragged on the ground with tear gas and batons.Çelik, who pointed out that lawsuits were filed regarding the Istanbul Provincial Congress and CHP conventions, that a trustee was appointed to the Istanbul Provincial Presidency, and that the provincial building was raided by 5,000 police officers, stated that women and young people were dragged on the ground with tear gas and batons.Çelik, who pointed out that lawsuits were filed regarding the Istanbul Provincial Congress and CHP conventions, that a trustee was appointed to the Istanbul Provincial Presidency, and that the provincial building was raided by 5,000 police officers, stated that women and young people were dragged on the ground with tear gas and batons. Çelik, who pointed out that lawsuits were filed regarding the Istanbul Provincial Congress and CHP conventions, that a trustee was appointed to the Istanbul Provincial Presidency, and that the provincial building was raided by 5,000 police officers, stated that women and young people were dragged on the ground with tear gas and batons.Çelik, who pointed out that lawsuits were filed regarding the Istanbul Provincial Congress and CHP conventions, that a trustee was appointed to the Istanbul Provincial Presidency, and that the provincial building was raided by 5,000 police officers, stated that women and young people were dragged on the ground with tear gas and batons.Çelik, who pointed out that lawsuits were filed regarding the Istanbul Provincial Congress and CHP conventions, that a trustee was appointed to the Istanbul Provincial Presidency, and that the provincial building was raided by 5,000 police officers, stated that women and young people were dragged on the ground with tear gas and batons.he said.Noting that there is still atrustee absurdity, Çelik stated thattrustee debates regarding theCHP conventionwere also brought to the agenda.

However,aimsto portray the CHP as being ininternal conflict,todamage the party's reputationand weaken its corporate identity, Çelik said,adding that these attemptshave failed, and the party leader's predecessorsin the presence of 2 extraordinaryand 1 ordinarycongress were held,and that withthe will of the delegates, re-electhey were elected. Çelik stated that they hold3 certificates of election issued by the YSK, yet despite this, they continue to deal with lawsuits,he said.

REACTION TO LONGDETENTION PERIODS

Stating that not only he, but also mayors and districtchairpersons are being tried in this case, Çelik stated that Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat and Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney were also being tried in the hearing. He noted that Akpolat was taken into custody and arrested 1 year ago, and that his indictment was written a short time ago, but it has not yetStating that they have notappeared beforea judge, Çelik said that this is an unacceptableperiod ofdetention.

Ekrem Stating that İmamoğlu was arrested on March 19, that his indictment was written recently, and that the hearing date was set for March, Çelikexpressed that appearing in court ayear after being arrested amounts to preemptive punishment. He stated that this situation is not only punishing CHP members but also the voters who receive services from them.Hefurtheradded.

Stating that İnan Güney has been detained for 6 months and that his indictment has not yetbeen written,Çelik pointed to the municipalities of Bayrampaşa, Gaziosmanpaşa, Şile, and Büyükçekmece regardingstated that the relevant indictments have not been written either. He noted that there are mayors who have beenin detention for months, nearly a year,and Çelik called for the end of long detention periods and the application of the principleof trial without detention. Hemade this call.

“WE HAVE VOICED OUR DEMAND FOR JUSTICE”

Stating that he presented a three-stage defense at the hearing, Çelik said that in the firststage, he explained why they were being tried, stating that thisstemmed from the CHP becomingTurkey's leading party, hesaid. In the second stage, he addressed the accusationsthat were the subject of the trial.demonstrating the meaninglessness of a large numberof documents and evidence, Çelik stated that in the finalstage, he expressed his demand for justice.

He noted that their demands for justice are not only forthemselves,but for this for the 86 million citizensliving in the country,emphasizing that itis for them, Çelik saidthat they demand justice in education, taxation, income distribution, and access to healthcare.Stating that where there is no justice,there is no democracy, and where there is no democracy, there can be no economic prosperity or social peace. Çelik reiterated his demand for justice for the imprisoned mayors. Çelik reiterated his demand for justice for them as well.

Çelik repeated his request for the hearings to be broadcast live on TRT, and demanded that the indictments for all municipalities for which indictments have not yet been written be prepared immediately.they demanded that it be prepared,he said.

News Source: 12punto