Zafer Party bans participation in Saraçhane rally

The Republican People's Party (CHP) is holding a major rally in Saraçhane this evening to mark the 100th day of the detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor and the party's presidential candidate, Ekrem İmamoğlu. While the rally is scheduled for 8:30 PM, CHP voters from across Turkey are expected to attend.

ZAFER PARTY: "THERE WILL BE NO PARTICIPATION"

However, a notable decision to abstain has come from the opposition front. The Zafer Party Headquarters, in a written directive sent to its Istanbul provincial and district organizations, requested that none of its party members attend the rally. The letter stated, "No one from the Zafer Party organizations will attend the CHP event to be held in Saraçhane today."

Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ explained the reasoning behind the decision in a statement to journalist İpek Özbey. Özdağ said, "This is a decision made under my instruction to prevent potential provocations, especially following the Leman incident and the emergence of the IBDA-C threat." Stating that he does not want party members to become part of a provocation, Özdağ added, "I cannot allow Zafer Party members to become pawns in a provocation."

News Source: 12punto