CHP's Işık Sends Birthday Message to Imprisoned Erkol: 'Their Aim is to Target Us Through You'

In a poignant display of solidarity, CHP Ankara Provincial Secretary Yüksel Işık has shared a deeply personal and politically charged birthday message for İl Başkanı Dr. Ümit Erkol, who remains incarcerated in Şakran Prison. This message, disseminated via social media, transcends a simple birthday wish, serving instead as a powerful statement of unwavering support and a critique of the political climate that led to Erkol's imprisonment.

“

You know that their real aim is to conduct an operation against us through you.

Işık's message draws heavily on Turkish literary and historical references, invoking ancient oaths and the spirit of resistance. He speaks of a shared heritage, a tradition of standing against oppression, and assures Erkol that his imprisonment is a calculated move by their adversaries. "The 'Sultan's armies' have taken you and placed you between four walls," Işık writes, "You know that their real aim is to conduct an operation against us through you."

“

We represent a tradition that kicked down gallows...

This framing is crucial from our perspective at Cumhuriyet. We see this not merely as the detention of an individual but as a strategic maneuver aimed at destabilizing the main opposition party. The message emphasizes that despite the current hardship, the CHP's resolve remains unbroken. Işık assures Erkol, "We know which pirs we stood for when we bared our hairy chests to the sultan's armies... We represent a tradition that kicked down gallows... We will overcome these days together."

“

I am aware that we are going through days when the law is used as a weapon of politics. The day will come and you will be among us again.

The underlying sentiment is one of defiance and a firm belief in eventual justice. Işık acknowledges the current reality where "law is used as a weapon of politics," but expresses certainty that "the day will come when you will be among us again." This message resonates deeply within Turkey, where political detentions and the weaponization of the justice system are pressing concerns. It highlights the unique struggle faced by opposition figures and the importance of maintaining hope and unity in the face of adversity. The CHP's commitment to fighting for a future where justice prevails, and where such political persecution ceases, is a narrative that defines our current political discourse.

“

Until that day, we will fight more and laugh more with the happiness of having built the future together.