Özlem Şanver, who was subjected to violence by CHP's Şimşek: 'He said he would change, I believed him; should I be beaten just because I didn't leave?'

Şanver described the cycle of violence she was subjected to. Stating that she had been subjected to violence before and had filed complaints, Şanver reacted to the criticism directed at her asking, "Why didn't you leave?" and emphasized that escaping a cycle of violence is not as easy as it appears from the outside.

Responding to questions from journalist Enver Aysever, Şanver stated that the footage that reached the public belongs to June 2025.

Refuting Şimşek's past defenses claiming he "didn't even touch a finger," Şanver recalled that she was also subjected to violence in 2021 and had filed a complaint after obtaining a medical report for assault. Explaining that she wanted to end the relationship to escape the cycle of violence and had rented a house in the Burhaniye district of Balıkesir, Şanver stated that Şimşek followed her. Şanver described the process with the words, "He said, 'It will get better, I will change, I'm sorry.' We came back together. But unfortunately, that is what you think."

"It is no one's right to make this judgment"

Noting that she is currently in Balıkesir in accordance with a court order, Şanver reacted to the criticism from the public and her circle asking, "Why didn't you leave?" Stating that judgments made from the outside do not reflect the truth, Şanver said, "Those who are living it, and of course those who judge me regarding this issue... I mean, 'Why didn't you leave then?' Believe me, without being in it... No, it is no one's right to ask this question or make this judgment. Why didn't I leave? So I didn't leave, should I be beaten? I didn't leave, should I be subjected to violence? We cannot look at it from that perspective."

"I thought there was a bond of love between us"

Stating that their relationship lasted 9.5 years and that she was known by some politicians as Şimşek's wife, Şanver said she kept the relationship out of the public eye for many years. Expressing that she thought there was a bond of love between them but that she was mistaken, Şanver said, "I thought so, but unfortunately, if that had been the case, I wouldn't have a single photo of him shared anywhere during these 9.5 years."

News Source: 12punto