CHP Leader Visits Jailed İmamoğlu, Calls Trial a Political Setup

Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chair Özgür Özel visited Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in Silivri Prison, where he is being held pending trial. Following the visit, Özel labeled the legal case against İmamoğlu a “political setup”, claiming that unnamed secret witnesses form the sole basis of the indictment.

“There is not a single piece of real evidence—only fabricated accusations from anonymous witnesses,”
Özel said during a press conference outside the prison.
“This trial is a continuation of the same type of conspiracies we saw during the Ergenekon and Balyoz cases.”

Özel criticized the court’s decision to assign İmamoğlu’s case to a courtroom historically associated with FETÖ-linked trials, accusing the government of following in the footsteps of controversial former prosecutor Zekeriya Öz.

Yozgat Dispute Settled with ‘Brotherly Agreement’

Özel also shared a lighter moment from his meeting with İmamoğlu, revealing a brief disagreement over fines issued to farmers in Yozgat.

“Ekrem thought I was about to take over responsibility for paying the fines before he could,”
said Özel.
“In the end, we resolved it as a ‘brotherly share.’ We’ll split the fines in the spirit of solidarity.”

Media Under Pressure: Journalist Soykan Detained

Özel condemned the early-morning detention of investigative journalist Timur Soykan, who was scheduled to appear for questioning the same day. Soykan was forcibly detained by police just hours before attending a ceremony where Özel was to present him with a journalism award.

“Instead of respecting press freedom, they sent dozens of officers to his home at dawn,”
Özel remarked, calling the move an affront to free expression.

Support for Youth and Police, Criticism of Political Interference

Özel defended young protesters held in connection to recent demonstrations, saying their detentions were unjust and lacked legal basis.

“These youths didn’t commit any crimes. There were no axes, no weapons—just voices,”
he said, in response to recent government claims of violent protest activity.

He also acknowledged the difficult working conditions of police officers, adding:

“They are the sons and daughters of this nation, not tools of a political regime. We won’t let anyone make them scapegoats.”

CHP on Kurdish Issue: ‘If Kurds Say There’s a Problem, There Is One’

Özel reiterated CHP’s consistent stance on the Kurdish issue, stressing the need for a democratic, inclusive approach via Parliament.

“If Kurds say there’s a problem, then there is a problem—and it’s our duty to solve it. The way forward is through democratic processes, not exclusion,”
Özel stated.

He criticized those in power for labeling Kurdish representation as terrorism, pointing out the hypocrisy of criminalizing municipal appointments of Kurdish members while claiming to seek a ‘terror-free Türkiye.’

CHP to Be Present for İmamoğlu’s Hearing

Özel confirmed that although he will be in Ankara on the day of the hearing, CHP deputies and senior officials will attend İmamoğlu’s session in Silivri.

“We will be there with strong representation to stand by Ekrem Başkan,”
he assured.