Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer Arrested – Sözcü Newspaper
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, Terrorism and Organized Crime Investigation Bureau, completed the judicial procedures for Özer, who was detained as part of the investigation into the activities and members of the terrorist organization PKK/KCK.
Following his statement, Özer was arrested by the duty peace judge on charges of being a member of the PKK/KCK armed terrorist organization.
REMOVED FROM OFFICE
After Özer’s arrest, the Ministry of Interior removed him from office.
REFERRAL LETTER TO THE PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE
In the scope of the investigation, a referral letter from the prosecutor’s office to the duty peace judge was obtained.
The letter contained information that during a meeting in 2014 between the terrorist organization leader Abdullah Öcalan and a delegation of People’s Democratic Party (HDP) members, some academics expressed their desire to contribute to a so-called democratic autonomy project. When Öcalan asked the delegation for names, they mentioned Ahmet Özer from Mersin University. The letter also mentioned that the delegation informed Öcalan that Özer had informed them of some academics reaching out to him, stating that while they did not gain new perspectives from the information produced in the name of science, they gained new perspectives when focusing on his books. Abdullah Öcalan acknowledged the importance of this information and gave instructions to the delegation.
The letter also highlighted the communication interceptions regarding Özer, revealing two criminal elements in the conversations. One instance detailed a person calling Özer to inform him of the death of M.K.’s mother. Özer then requested M.K.’s number and inquired about his position within the party. The person on the phone informed Özer that M.K.’s two brothers were involved in terrorist activities and asked Özer to visit M.K. as the party valued him. Consequently, Özer contacted M.K. and expressed his need for assistance in the local elections.
The referral letter detailed the dialogue between Özer and M.K., where Özer referred to M.K. as a valuable individual. It also mentioned that M.K.’s brother, Tahirhan Kaya, was caught before carrying out an attack with explosive materials following orders from the mountain unit in 2011, sentenced to 19 years and 7 months in prison, and currently in custody. Additionally, the letter noted that M.K.’s other two brothers received various prison sentences for being members of an armed terrorist organization.
During a search at the municipal building, organizational documents were seized, and in his statement to the prosecutor, Özer failed to explain his contact with terrorist organization leaders like Remzi Kartal, phone conversations with members of the terrorist organization, and large money transfers in a manner consistent with normal life events or claimed not to remember.
The letter requested Özer’s arrest on charges of being a member of the PKK/KCK armed terrorist organization.
ARRESTED IN THE EARLY HOURS
As part of the investigation, Özer was taken into custody, and searches were conducted at his home, workplace, and car based on communication interception records, physical surveillance reports, bank account transactions, and establishing an organic connection with terrorist leaders to commit the alleged crime. Upon the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s request, a search warrant was issued by the Istanbul Duty Peace Judge.
Özer was arrested this morning, and searches were conducted at his home, workplace, and car.
IMAMOĞLU SPEAKS IN FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE
The CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik called for a protest in front of the Istanbul Courthouse on social media to “defend democracy” against the unjust process regarding Esenyurt Mayor Prof. Dr. Ahmet Özer.
Later, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu arrived at the courthouse. Here are the highlights of İmamoğlu’s statement:
– “Unfortunately, on the day following the first Republic Day of the new century, an attempt is being made to undermine the rule of law, justice, and democracy. What we are experiencing is shameful. I said today, ‘we know very well the inspiration behind these dawn operations.’ We saw how those who made headlines with news of arrests before actual arrests, and those who announced trustees before appointing them, demonstrate their loyalty to their legacy. Once again, we are facing a serious democracy disgrace. Once again, we see a clear political intervention in the judiciary. Once again, when you say ‘what did you want that we didn’t give,’ you are trying to operate with the remaining methods. Again, you are making reputation assassinations in a very disgraceful manner by describing quotes from books, condolence calls as terrorist meetings, with fabricated documents and baseless indictments. We are once again facing a government that disregards the will of the voters and sees its power and itself as permanent, its citizens as temporary tenants.
– Where were these visible decisions made, and by whom before which court? We are aware of everything. We see clearly what trailer of the movie you are showing. We know very well which backroom political conspiracy you are plotting. More importantly, we understand very well why you are afraid and why you are resorting to fraudulent methods. The people know, see, and understand this. Where is the unbiased reconciliation you proposed? Where is the road you were building from İmralı to the Parliament? What happened that suddenly you are trying to arrest a CHP mayor and appoint a trustee in his place? What is your problem with Istanbul? What is your problem with the people of Istanbul? Is this your dream for Turkey? Is this your Turkey of the century? Is this your definition of reconciliation, peace, and harmony? How will you fix the economy with this mindset? How will you raise the reputation of our country with this mindset? I see the ugly smirk on the faces of those who made these decisions and those trying to make them. Be sure that it has happened before, and it will happen again. The last laugh will be our people’s. Whatever you do, whatever dark conspiracy you plot, we will end this political institution and institutional decay. We will make the Republic of Turkey loyal to rules and institutions, not individuals. We will quickly restore our country to a structure that produces equal and fair service for everyone. We have already passed the courage and testing phases. We are not afraid, we are not discouraged, we are determined to fight for justice. Long live the Republic, long live a fully independent Turkey, long live a just country. We continue our fight for this.”
In conclusion, the arrest of Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer has sparked outrage and protests, with political figures condemning the actions as an attack on democracy and justice. The unfolding events surrounding Özer’s arrest raise concerns about the state of governance and the rule of law in Turkey. The public’s response to these developments will likely shape the future political landscape of the country.
