What did Soner Ergin, the youngest of the brothers known as the 'Karagümrük gang', discuss with Bahçeli: 'I am a devotee of my chairman'

Soner Ergin, the youngest of the Ergin brothers, known publicly as the "Karagümrük gang," visited MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli. 

Journalist Barış Pehlivan covered what was discussed in that meeting in his column.

Here is Pehlivan's conversation with Soner Ergin...

It was claimed that Devlet Bahçeli would give your brothers "good news." Is this claim true?

Yes, a report came out saying "good news will be given." Let me make a statement regarding that. My visit to my esteemed chairman, Mr. Devlet Bahçeli, was absolutely not something my older brother Nuri told me to "go and discuss." I am a member and a child of that party. Thank you, they accepted my visit. But it is a lie that the words "good news" came out of my mouth or pen.

Then why did you meet with the MHP leader?

Both of my older brothers have been in prison for 30 years. The threats we made against the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization in Turkey before the coup attempt even happened are in the archives. We have lived with the pride of this. The presiding judges of the court where we were tried were all members of Fethullah Gülen's terrorist organization, and they handed down sentences to our older brothers. Yes, we committed the murder crimes that my brothers Nuri and Vedat were convicted of. We thanked them, accepted the sentences, shouldered them, and returned to our prison. In this way, as the Ergin Family, we have been in prisons for 30 years.

When I went to my esteemed chairman, I never made a request regarding an amnesty. My request was: "My chairman, there are incorrect calculations in the release year, which we call the 'duration statement,' prepared by FETÖ prosecutors. They are still sentencing us to 36 years. However, it should be 24-25 years. These are being ignored. They are still dealing with us, there is a problem," was the nature of it.

Sometimes you report; "He accepts gang and organization leaders"... Now, my esteemed chairman is not a man who would accept Fethullahists and terrorist organizations. Of course, he will accept tough guys. I went to my chairman and explained this situation.

We need to be sincere. Can men who have been in prison for 30 years, with only two years left, my two esteemed brothers, make a request saying "Pardon us"?

What exactly did you want from Devlet Bahçeli?

I stated that the prosecutors related to these files are still active and that they are still being dealt with.

So you requested that your brothers' duration statements be re-examined...

Yes, there is a lot of effort being made and it is still ongoing. There is an injustice. Who could I share this injustice with? I am a Soner Ergin who has been saying "Is there anyone who hears my voice?" on social media for 15 years. Every week of mine is spent with prison visits.

'I AM A DEVOTEE OF MY CHAIRMAN, I WOULD EVEN BOW BEFORE HIM' 

How did Bahçeli respond to you?

My chairman is not a person with a culture of saying "I will have it examined, I will do it." I had to explain my trouble as an idealist. He, of course, offered his wishes of "May God save you, get well soon." My chairman's door is open to everyone. Mr. Barış, you missed this point: We are talking about a person who has been in prison for 30 years and has 2-3 years of his sentence left. Why would we go with a request regarding this? I also go to support the struggle he has waged against terrorism because he is my chairman. Do they need my support? No, but I also have a circle and a following.

If one loves their mother and father, then I am a devotee of my chairman. For example, this was written; "He stood at attention." This is my family upbringing; he is my chairman, I live with that pride, and I am bowing before him right now.

How long did your meeting last?

10 minutes. I thanked him very much, I kissed his hands.

He also sent a gift to your brothers... Were you able to deliver it to the prison?

If God wills it, hopefully this week. I am saying it again; I did not go on my brother's instruction, I went myself. I said, "The duration statement prepared by Fethullahist prosecutors is very bad, they are still dealing with us, what should we do?" Why have my two brothers been lying in two separate prisons for years? Why didn't we ask for support regarding them staying in the same prison? Look at the case from here. We didn't even ask for these from our chairman, it is not ethical.

News Source: 12punto