Ümit Özdağ reacts to 'arrest based on mere allegations' regarding Muhittin Böcek: Enemy criminal law

Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ met with 44 neighborhood heads (muhtars) from the Muratpaşa districtat a dinnerorganized by his partyat the Ramada Hotelin Antalya. Özdabefore having a meal, hegave a speech.

Özdağ, arguingthat pressure on the opposition in Turkeyis increasing, said, "AworldWe see that the pressure on the oppositionthrough the applicationof enemy criminal lawis increasingand intensifyingevery day," he said.

"AGDESPITE BEING SERIOUSLY ILL, HE IS BEING TRIED WHILE IN CUSTODY"

Özdağ, Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin Böcek's detentireacting to the detention, he stated, "Despite being seriously ill, despite there being no risk of evidence tampering, and despite the crime not being proven and being based solely on allegations, he is being tried while in custody." Özdağ noted that in a similar incident, an executive of an organization close to the governmentreminding that his daughter is being tried without arrest in a traffic accident she was involved in, he said, 'This istheapplication of enemy criminal law. It is the politicization of law and its use as a toolto be usedagainst people,' he stated.

Ümit ÖzdaHe said, "Where there is no rule of law, it is notpossiblefor the economy to develop, nor is itpossiblefor prosperity to increase." Özdağfurther added, "Justice is the foundation of thenation, that is, the state. Where there is no justice,it is notpossible for anything to goright" heassessed.

Emphasizing that the foundation of democracy is local democracy, Özdağ said, "Local democracy does not start with mayors, but with neighborhood heads (muhtars). The muhtar is the point where the state and the nation intersect." Özdağ stated that strengthening the resources available to village headmen (muhtars) would contribute to the state's ability to better understand society.

News Source: 12punto