Özgür Özel meets with Tayfun Kahraman's wife and daughter

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel met with Meriç Kahraman, the wife of Tayfun Kahraman, who is imprisoned in the Gezi Park case, and their daughter Vera in Istanbul. CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik also accompanied Özel.

Özel stated, "Tayfun is someone who has served our party and this city greatly. During the Gezi protests, he was the head of a professional organization. And a very important professional organization at that. Of course, he could not remain indifferent to this issue during the Gezi protests. But he always played a mediating role. We know that he met with Mr. Erdoğan twice. I also explained this to Erdoğan regarding those two meetings. In both meetings, the statements he made afterward were very constructive. He wanted them to return home before any incidents occurred, without anyone even getting a nosebleed. In fact, during the second one, certain promises were made. 'Trees will not be cut down here, the court decision will be awaited. If the decision is negative, it will not be built; even if it is positive, it will go to appeal. A referendum will be held here.' He even received criticism from some who wanted the resistance to continue by saying, 'I invite the Gezi residents to return home under these conditions.' Unfair criticism. They said, 'You are breaking the protest.' Yet his goal was to save the trees. To voice this. He was striving to ensure that not a single person's nose would bleed."

'LET US REMEMBER ONCE MORE EVERY DAY'

Özel continued as follows:

"Later, for example, in the statement Erdoğan made about Tayfun, he speaks positively about this meeting, saying 'The young people came, we talked,' and so on. I had presented these to Mr. Erdoğan in a file as well. But until today, I mean, he had already said that 'there were some efforts underway.' There were efforts by our delegation head in the PACE, Tuğrul Türkeş, on this matter, but no results were obtained from them later.

Now you have brought this card. Let's give this to Vera. Let's give it to Meriç. What will she do? I mean, if she takes it to Tayfun, this card is, for example, a card used to attend CHP meetings, to come to the Headquarters. To go up to any floor. He won't be able to use it. I don't think this card will be very functional as long as it stays with Tayfun.

This card is needed by Tayfun after he is released. If you allow me, until Tayfun is released, I will carry this card in my pocket as the Chairman. Let me put this card in my pocket. At least when I put on or take off my jacket, or put it in my wallet.

Every day as we see this, let us remember once more that we need to do something. Because sometimes, no matter how much we struggle on this issue, it will be a thousand days soon, and we are still waiting for hope. Vera is waiting..."

HE PLACED TAYFUN KAHRAMAN'S CHP MEMBERSHIP CARD IN HIS WALLET

Özel, who received Tayfun Kahraman's CHP membership card, continued:

“If you see fit, let this stay in my pocket. I will take it out every time then, in the evening, and put it there. The next day, I will put it in the pocket of my new jacket or put it in my wallet.”

News Source: 12punto