Main opposition party CHP’s Esenyurt Mayor Ozer arrested on terrorism charges
Main opposition CHP's Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Ozer is arrested on charges of "being member of PKK/KCK armed terrorist organization" in Istanbul, Türkiye, October 30, 2024. (AA Photo)
Main opposition CHP’s Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Ozer has been arrested on charges of “being member of PKK/KCK armed terrorist organization.”
Ahmet Ozer, mayor of Esenyurt from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), was arrested Wednesday on charges of being a member of the PKK/KCK, an armed terrorist organization.
The Interior Ministry has appointed a trustee for Esenyurt Municipality following the arrest.
Ozer was detained early this morning during a raid on his home, with authorities also conducting searches at his residence and the municipal building.
The mayor of Esenyurt, a district of Istanbul with a population of 1 million, faces allegations of past affiliations with Kurdish separatist groups.
Ahmet Ozer’s arrest follows accusations that he may be involved with the terrorist organization PKK/KCK.
‘Investigation unrelated to his official duties,’ claims Ozer’s lawyer
The lawyer of Esenyurt Mayor Ozer emphasized Wednesday that the ongoing investigation into his activities is unrelated to his official duties.
He stated, “Some leaked information – details that his lawyers could not access but somehow made it to the press – mentions a 10-year-old communication record and quotes from his books.”
“These are legally published works, available in every bookstore across Türkiye. They also refer to instances where his name appears in meeting notes,” the lawyer claimed.
CHP calls for demonstrations over Ozer
In response to calls from CHP, the Kurdish-oriented Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), the leftist Workers’ Party of Türkiye (TIP), as well as some Istanbul residents gathered at Istanbul’s Caglayan Courthouse, where Ozer was brought for hearings.
CHP’s Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu also attended the courthouse crowd, where he stated, “Empty indictments are being used for character assassination. This is an attempt to undermine justice, law, and democracy. What is your problem with Istanbul and its people?”
Meanwhile, CHP Chairperson Ozgur Ozel, announcing the mayor’s arrest, called for a gathering in front of Esenyurt Municipality on Oct. 31.
“Undoubtedly, we will show the strongest reaction to these actions and we will defeat this despicable plan that does not recognize the nation and does not respect the preferences of the people,” Ozel said in his social media post.
