'Fool' debate at the IMM Assembly: 'In the event that İmamoğlu becomes a candidate...'

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Assembly discussed the 'Fool' case during today's off-agenda speeches. In a tense meeting, AKP Group Spokesperson Faruk Akkuş responded to criticisms directed at him by telling his colleagues to 'know their place.' CHP Group Deputy Chair Ülkü Sakalar, speaking on the case, said, 'You have been keeping it waiting in the appellate court for two years. Are you saying, "In the event that Ekrem İmamoğlu is nominated for something, we will pull this file out"? Is that it? We know your intentions.'

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'Fool' debate at the IMM Assembly: 'In the event that İmamoğlu becomes a candidate...'

Nagihan Yılkın

The second session of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Assembly for October was chaired by the 2nd Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Gökhan Gümüşdağ.

The off-agenda speeches in the Assembly were dominated by the "fool case," which has turned into a criminal trial against IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

Interpreting the case as 'a tragedy in which the regime is trying to imprison us,' IMM CHP Group Secretary Ömer Rasim Şişman said, "Ekrem İmamoğlu is a leader whom the government is afraid to face. That is why they want to defy the will of the nation. As everyone knows, this issue is an intervention regarding who will govern Turkey."

'IT IS CLEAR THAT IT IS NOT A CRIME'

Recalling that then-Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu targeted İmamoğlu and used the term 'fool' following the repeated Istanbul elections in 2019, Şişman stated: "In 2019, in Istanbul, following the local elections won for the second time by Ekrem İmamoğlu and the 16 million residents of Istanbul, the then-Interior Minister used an expression lacking political courtesy regarding Ekrem İmamoğlu. Our Mayor was targeted and directly called a 'fool.' Ekrem İmamoğlu, in a way that any ordinary sense of logic would consider quite natural, responded to this attack by returning the same expression to its owner. On the other hand, it is clear from the precedent decisions of the Court of Cassation that the mentioned 'fool' expression is not a crime. In other words, as everyone knows, this case has turned into a judicial assassination where the judiciary is guided by political motives. Our expectation is for the Court of Appeal to put a 'stop' to this ugly manipulation and establish the principle of the rule of law, which is one of the mandatory provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey. Ensuring justice, which is the foundation of the state, is our most natural demand."

'A BLOW TO THE SEARCH FOR JUSTICE'

Taking the floor after Şahin, IMM Assembly Member Tuğçe Çelik Karademir also recalled the history of the case and spoke as follows: The injustice that Ekrem İmamoğlu faces is not only a blow to him, but to the voting will, honor, and search for justice of every single voter living in this city and in this country. As long as you reach out to the judiciary, we, as Ekrem İmamoğlu's companions and thousands of Turkey lovers, will never hesitate to start the greatest struggle for democracy this country has ever seen.

TARGETED THE CHP

Taking the floor after Şahin and Karademir, AKP Group Spokesperson Faruk Akkuş targeted the CHP, saying, "I agree with all the words of my two fellow speakers regarding the national will, the rule of law, the judiciary, and related matters. Yes, there is no power above the will of the nation. And no one can interfere with the judiciary. I think a CHP lawyer, an Ankara deputy, is speaking about how it would be interference with the judiciary if such and such happens. Well, they asked, 'What happens if a contrary decision comes out?' He said, 'Then we will say there are judges in Ankara.'"

ACCUSED THE EXILED JUDGE

Speaking about the exile of Hüseyin Zengin, the judge of the 7th Criminal Court of First Instance who presided over the case, to Samsun, Akkuş said, "The judge was telling a few people, 'I am going to give such a decision.' That judge should be removed from the judiciary. A judge does not discuss his decision with anyone. He decides according to his conscience. A judge who says 'I will give such a decision' and a judge who discusses this decision should not be a judge. This is a betrayal of the law. The judiciary will make its decision. You have to comply with the decision made by the judiciary. You may not respect it, you may not accept it, but you have to comply with it."

CALLED OUT TO 'KNOW YOUR PLACE'

During his speech, Akkuş addressed assembly member Metin Kaya, who stood up from the CHP group to criticize him, saying, "Lawyers are speaking, Mr. Metin, you sit down. You sit down, sit down, Mr. Metin. Mr. Metin, know your place. Our lawyer friends will answer. Mr. Metin, know your place."

'THE POINT THEY HAVE BROUGHT THE JUDICIARY TO IS CLEAR'

Reminding that the speeches that are the subject of the 'fool' case were not about the Supreme Election Council (YSK) but took place between the then-Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, CHP Group Spokesperson Gencay Özcan said, "The then-president and members of the YSK withdrew, saying, 'We have no grievance here. Therefore, we have no complaint.' Now, who is the addressee here? Of course, the then-minister, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, who made the statement. The point they have brought the judiciary to in the country is very clear. The Constitutional Court. It does not recognize the decision made by the Court of Cassation. The Court of Cassation does not recognize the decision made by the Constitutional Court. Who is governing this country, to what point have you brought justice in this country? Look, which case am I talking about? I am talking about a process where the parliamentary membership of an elected deputy was not delivered. I am talking about the Can Atalay process. My Chairman, if the Constitutional Court does not recognize the decision of the Court of Cassation, and the Court of Cassation does not recognize the decision of the Constitutional Court, and statements are made that these are null and void, the trust in justice in this country will be shaken and it will be condemned in the conscience of the public."

'I STRONGLY CONDEMN IT'

Stating that the trial process is a perception operation, BBP Assembly Member Dursun Çağlayan accused the CHP of having a criminal record regarding democracy and being a supporter of the 1960 coup.

Taking the floor by saying that he strongly condemned Çağlayan, CHP Group Deputy Chair Ülkü Sakalar said, "The Republican People's Party is a party that has always opposed coups. With the 1960 coup. The Republican People's Party is also known. I also strongly condemn the attempt to place the Republican People's Party side-by-side with the 1960 coup and to destroy the Republican People's Party with the actions of the coup plotters that took place in the coup."

"IN THE EVENT THAT İMAMOĞLU IS NOMINATED..."

Speaking about the case, Sakalar said, "A case measured and cut millimeter by millimeter, well done. We will keep this case on the agenda until justice is served. You have been keeping it waiting in the appellate court for two years. Are you saying, 'In the event that Ekrem İmamoğlu is nominated for something, we will pull this file out'? Is that it? We know your intentions. We know everything. All of Istanbul knows. All of Turkey knows."

News Source: Nagihan Yılkın