Özgür Özel visits İmamoğlu in Silivri: The public prevented the March 19 civil coup by taking to the streets

CHP leader Özgür Özel visited CHP's presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Beylikdüzü Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık, Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan, and Tayfun Kahraman, who are being held at Marmara (Silivri) Prison.

Making a statement after the visit, Özgür Özel said, "We are in Silivri. It is the year 2025. As the chairman of the Republic's founding party, the party that came first in the last elections, and the party that won municipalities representing 80 percent of the economy and 65 percent of the population in the last elections, I have just visited Ekrem İmamoğlu—who was elected mayor of the world's most well-known metropolis three times with increasing votes—in Silivri, along with two valuable mayors, Resul Emrah Şahan and Murat Çalık, and on behalf of all our friends held captive here in our place for years, Gezi prisoner Tayfun Kahraman. There are three more mayors I could not visit. I will meet with them during my next visit here so I can make it to the group meeting. I am ashamed on behalf of those who govern Turkey for the atmosphere I am in and for this situation that Turkey is being forced to endure. But they have no shame left. I am ashamed."

'THE WILL OF THE BALLOT BOX WAS PROTECTED'

Özel continued: "Because they are trying to break the wrist they cannot bend through the judiciary. 'I couldn't defeat Ekrem İmamoğlu, I can't defeat him, I won't be able to defeat him. So I will get rid of him.' They thought it would be that easy. What they didn't account for were not the millions at Saraçhane. What they didn't account for were the 15.5 million people who drew the whole world's attention to Turkey last Sunday. That is, those who could hear about it, access it, get up and come, and reach it. Because now the entire world press is following us. I didn't do this. This is not an interest I created. This is the nation's reaction to the injustice, lawlessness, and disgrace created by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The March 19 civil coup attempt was prevented by the will of the nation, by the nation pouring into the streets to face the coup plotters, my friends. On the night of July 15, an organization they had raised and nurtured, to whom they had given tanks and whose planes they had launched, attempted a coup. The citizens protected what came out of the ballot box. Those who took to the streets on July 15 did not do so for the sake of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's looks. We called for it too, everyone called for it. We ran to the parliament as well. They protected the people's will and the fact that governments in this country change through the ballot box. And what is being protected now is nothing other than the will of the people."

'WE WILL NOT EXCHANGE HOLIDAY GREETINGS WITH THE GOVERNMENT'

"The palace regime has been condemned to dungeons. The palace regime has embarrassed its own voters. We are not stopping; we will continue to grow stronger," said Özel, adding, "We will not exchange holiday greetings with the government. Who is going to hold the candy? Will Akın Gürlek exchange holiday greetings with me this holiday? It will be celebrated in all provinces, districts, towns, and villages. This holiday will have a new surprise for Erdoğan."

The full statement by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel is as follows:

"Friends, unfortunately, we are in Silivri, and it is the year 2025. As the Chairman of the founding party of the Republic, the party that came in first in the last elections, and the party that won municipalities representing 80 percent of the economy and 65 percent of the population, I have just visited Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was elected Mayor of the world's most well-known metropolis three times with increasing votes, here in Silivri. I also visited two valuable mayors, Resul Emrah Şahan and Murat Çalık, and on behalf of all our friends who have been held captive here in our place for years, I visited Gezi prisoner Tayfun Kahraman. There are three mayors I could not visit. I will meet with them on my next visit so that I can make it to the group meeting," he said. Özel continued as follows:

"THE ENTIRE WORLD PRESS IS FOLLOWING US"

"I am ashamed on behalf of those who govern Turkey for the atmosphere I am in and the situation Turkey is being forced to endure. They have no shame left, but I am ashamed. Because they are trying to break the wrist they cannot bend through the judiciary. 'I couldn't defeat Ekrem İmamoğlu, I can't defeat him, and I won't be able to. So, I will get rid of him.' They thought it would be that easy. What they didn't account for is not just the millions at Saraçhane. What they didn't account for is the 15.5 million people who drew the attention of the whole world to Turkey last Sunday. Those who could hear the news, access it, get up, come, and reach out. Now the entire world press is following us. I didn't do this. This is not an interest I created. This is the nation's reaction to the injustice, lawlessness, and disgrace created by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The March 19 civil coup attempt was prevented by the will of the nation and the people pouring into the streets against the coup plotters, friends. On the night of July 15, an organization that they had raised and nurtured, to whom they had given tanks and whose planes they had allowed to take off, attempted a coup. The citizens protected what came out of the ballot box. Those who poured into the streets on July 15 did not do so for the sake of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's looks... We called for it too, everyone called for it. We ran too, we went to the Parliament. They protected the will of the people and the fact that governments in this country change through the ballot box."

"WHAT IS BEING PROTECTED IS NOTHING OTHER THAN THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE"

"Now, what is being protected is nothing other than the will of the people. My mother, at 96 years old, climbing those stairs with two canes in her hands, is protecting the right of women to vote and be elected, which was entrusted to her by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, while also protecting her son Ekrem. The woman who comes there with her three-year-old baby or her unborn child is doing so to ensure that the child she carries does not become a subject to someone else's son in the future. That woman goes to the ballot box carrying the possibility that the three-month-old baby in her womb might one day be the 17th or 18th President of this country. The father who holds his 1.5-year-old child's hand and makes them draw a heart on the ballot paper carries the hope that his child will live in one of the richest countries in the world. The nation is rebelling against a mentality that is so blinded by the fear of Ekrem İmamoğlu alone that it would burn 60 percent of the reserves accumulated through begging and pleading over two years, saying, 'Let me stay in power even if the country burns.'"

"THEY ARE STANDING TALL, HEADS HELD HIGH, LIKE LIONS"

"I met with three lions inside who are standing tall, heads held high, proud of themselves, their families, and their colleagues, who are not afraid—only cowards are afraid, but they are not. They are like lions, just like lions. If there is any anxiety, it is left to Tayyip Erdoğan. We can already see the fear on his face. I am telling Tayyip Erdoğan, who is bursting with envy and jealous of those 15.5 million votes cast: That photograph is now history. You force people: 'I'll give you a job, give me your ID'; they ask for an appointment, 'Give me your ID'; 'I'll buy coal, give me your ID'; 'I'm hungry, social assistance, give me your ID'... You made 11.5 million members over 23 years by giving quotas to all provincial heads, district heads, and youth branches, recording them over and over. 15.5 million people ran to the ballot boxes—unofficial, with no penalty for not voting, and not even registered. The democracy revolution and the wind are behind Ekrem Bey and our friends. The democracy revolution has trampled Tayyip Bey's anti-democratic order. The palace regime has been crushed under the cane of that elderly aunt. The palace regime has been crushed under the size 32 sneakers of that 1.5-year-old child. This palace regime has been condemned by consciences and has embarrassed its own voters. I know that no AK Party supporter or MHP supporter voted for this intolerance. The shame of those who committed this intolerance is not on your backs."

"LET ERDOĞAN BE BLINDED BY RAGE, WE WILL TURN OUR HEARTS TO THE NATION"

"Voters who cast their ballots for the AK Party... I know you are ashamed too. Do not share in this shame. To avoid sharing in this shame, we are coming to exchange holiday greetings with AK Party voters and MHP voters this holiday. The Republican People's Party has exchanged greetings and embraced with 16 opposition parties during each of their visits to Saraçhane until the holiday. We are not exchanging greetings in Ankara this holiday. We have exchanged greetings with the opposition; what is there to exchange greetings about regarding this conspiracy orchestrated by the ruling power? Is Akın Gürlek going to come and offer me holiday candy? Is Akın Gürlek going to hold the holiday candy? Is the judge he handpicked, his close associate whom he placed in the 10th Criminal Court of Peace to order the arrest, going to pour cologne on our hands? This holiday, our members and 15.5 million soldiers of the Republican People's Party will be exchanging greetings across 81 provinces, 973 districts, and all towns and villages. This holiday will have a new surprise for Tayyip Erdoğan. We are not stopping. We will continue to surprise, to grow stronger, and to intimidate. As long as Özgür Özel comes to Silivri to see his friends, comrades, political allies, and mayors, no matter how much Tayyip Erdoğan loses his composure, we will turn our hearts to our nation together. At the first opportunity, we will rid ourselves of him and this nest of evil. I thank you all."

News Source: 12punto