YENİ Party Chairman Özgür Özel arrived in Silivri to follow the IMM trial, in which the imprisoned presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is among the defendants.
It was stated that İmamoğlu's defense continued on the 99th day of the trial, which is being heard by the Istanbul 33rd High Criminal Court, with 436 defendants, 53 of whom are in custody. Speaking to journalists before the hearing, Özel argued that İmamoğlu has been subjected to "undeserved slanders" for a long time.
Özel claimed that the indictment turned out as they expected, saying, "None of the allegations are substantiated. Under these conditions, the trial has been ongoing for six months since March. Mayor Ekrem has had no right to speak. Finally, the right to defense began to be exercised as of yesterday."
Stating that the mainstream media did not show sufficient interest in İmamoğlu's defense, Özel also linked the appointment of a trustee to Halk TV to this process. Özel used the expression, "Yesterday morning, a few hours before the defense began, they appointed a trustee to Halk TV."
Stating that the attempt to silence Halk TV targets not only a television channel but also the public's right to receive information, Özel said, "There will be no one left who does not read, hear, or know about that defense."
In his statement, Özel expanded on the allegations of political pressure, saying, "No one can seize the will of this vast country of 86 million people by shutting down television stations, arresting candidates, closing parties, or changing a party's chairman."
Emphasizing that the ballot box is one of the most important achievements of the Republic, Özel criticized the government with the words, "This nation has always broken the hand that reached out to the ballot box, and it will continue to break it from now on."
Upon a question from journalists regarding the "fund crisis," Özel said that they would follow the matter. Stating that they were the ones who brought Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya's name to the agenda, Özel said, "We have not allowed this matter to be covered up until today, and we will not allow it from now on."
Özel stated that they would continue the struggle both in Parliament and in other areas, arguing that what is happening is aimed at darkening Turkey's future.
News Source : 12punto
