CHP's Deniz Yücel: 'They are strong enough to inspire confidence in friends and fear in enemies'

CHP Party Spokesperson and Deputy Chairman Deniz Yücel and CHP Çanakkale Deputy İsmet Güneşhan visited CHP Presidential Candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, Beylikdüzü Mayor Murat Çalık, Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan, Istanbul Planning Agency President Buğra Gökçe, and Istanbul Reform Institute Director Mehmet Ali Çalışkan at Silivri Prison. Following the visit, Yücel and Güneşhan made statements to the press in front of Silivri Prison. İmamoğlu conveyed the following message from prison through Yücel:

'I WILL NOT EAT RIGHTS, NOR WILL I LET MINE BE EATEN'

'I have full faith that our party will hold a convention this week that is unifying, inclusive, and integrative, preparing the future our nation desires. In these difficult days for our country, I wish for our nation to look to the future with hope without losing its spirit. With the consciousness of "I will not eat rights, nor will I let mine be eaten"—a belief I hold to be present in every single one of our 86 million people—we will continue to protect the nation's will and the nation's sovereignty together as a nation, with this belief, in our struggle for rights, law, and justice.'

Noting that they could not meet with Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat due to health issues, Yücel said the following:

'THEY ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO INSPIRE CONFIDENCE IN FRIENDS AND FEAR IN ENEMIES'

"'They are all standing tall. They are like quicksilver; they are very strong. As the saying goes: They are strong enough to inspire confidence in friends and fear in enemies. They conveyed their greetings and respects to everyone who loves them, to their friends, and to our friends. Mahir Polat has serious health problems. Since the very beginning of the investigation, his lawyer has submitted Mahir Polat's medical reports to the relevant prosecutor's office. However, it is clear that his treatment cannot be maintained in a healthy manner under prison conditions... Keeping him in prison conditions frankly does not align with humanitarian feelings, a sense of justice, or the law.'

'MARCH 19 IS ALSO A DATE OF AWAKENING'

Yücel continued his words as follows:

'Democracy has been destroyed, the national will has been usurped, and the law has been murdered. Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu, who defeated Tayyip Erdoğan and the AKP four times at the ballot box, and his colleagues, our fellow travelers, have been deprived of their freedom through a legal coup, a judicial coup. They may be behind four walls in the Silivri dungeon right now. But we know very well that they will emerge from here even stronger. March 19 has gone down in legal and political history as a black mark.

It will be remembered as a day of shame. However, March 19 is also a date of awakening. It is a turning point for millions to take ownership of an ongoing struggle. From young to old, woman to man, retiree to worker, all segments of society have loudly objected to this injustice, lawlessness, and judicial coup. They have stood tall against this injustice, and they will continue to do so. The process we are experiencing will send those who commit these injustices and lawlessness out of power. The March 19 process is the day when the power drunkenness and power poisoning that the AKP government has fallen into for years have been revealed. March 19 is the day the government once again faced society's objection to injustices and lawlessness.

'WE WANT OUR CANDIDATE BY OUR SIDE AND THE BALLOT BOX BEFORE US'

Stating that the March 19 legal coup was a milestone, Yücel concluded his words by saying, 'We all know that nothing in this country will be the same as it was before March 19. The youth they tried to stop, intimidate, and frighten with pressurized water, tear gas, and water cannons (TOMA); the artists, politicians, and business people they tried to silence with detentions and investigations; and the people they have condemned to scarcity, poverty, high cost of living, and hunger for years will make them pay the heaviest price for this lawlessness, injustice, usurpation of will, democratic coup, and judicial coup when the ballot box arrives. I convey the greetings, respects, and love of all the fellow travelers we met with. These injustices and lawlessness will end. Let no one lose their morale. The Republican People's Party will hold its convention on Sunday. After this convention, we will continue our struggle in a stronger, more faithful, more determined, and more motivated manner, and when the ballot box arrives, we will together put an end to this law-defying, democracy-hating government. We want our candidate by our side and the ballot box before us.'

News Source: 12punto