Detained Mayor Speaks from Prison: 'Absolute Nullity is a Dagger to Democracy, New Party is a Necessity'

Detained Kuşadası Mayor Ömer Günel has broken his silence from prison, speaking to Cumhuriyet newspaper about his ongoing legal battle and the broader political landscape in Turkey. Günel, who was arrested in March as part of an investigation centered on the Kuşadası Municipality, has been held for months without an indictment, a situation he described as deeply damaging to his faith in the justice system.

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My faith in the rule of law, in the 'father state,' was profoundly shaken when I encountered the allegations during interrogation in Istanbul and the baseless arrest process.

"My faith in the rule of law, in the 'father state,' was profoundly shaken when I encountered the allegations during interrogation in Istanbul and the baseless arrest process," Günel stated. As a lawyer himself, he expressed self-criticism but emphasized the lack of evidence. "You arrest someone with a fabricated, baseless statement. When the judicial system, the father state, which is supposed to protect us from evil, does this, whom can a citizen trust?" he questioned, highlighting the perceived arbitrariness of the proceedings.

Günel also raised concerns about the prolonged delay in the preparation of his indictment. "Who are we going to complain to about an authority that arrests first and then tries to gather evidence?" he asked, pointing to the lack of regulations on indictment preparation times, contrasting it with the ministry's stated limits on trial durations. He vowed to pursue these questions once the confidentiality order on his case is lifted.

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You arrest someone with a fabricated, baseless statement. When the judicial system, the father state, which is supposed to protect us from evil, does this, whom can a citizen trust?

Addressing rumors that his arrest was a consequence of political tensions with other party figures, Günel asserted that evidence exists to prove a "conspiracy" orchestrated for political gain over the past 2.5 years. He believes that once an independent judiciary is re-established, these events and individuals will be subjected to a genuine investigation. He specifically questioned the timing of the investigation, launched in September 2023 by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office despite having no apparent connection to Istanbul.

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Who are we going to complain to about an authority that arrests first and then tries to gather evidence?

Furthermore, Günel drew a parallel between his detention and the recent "absolute nullity" decision against the main opposition CHP party. While acknowledging that the initial motivation for his investigation might differ, he suggested that the prevailing political climate allowed it to gain traction. He described the "absolute nullity" ruling as a "dagger to democracy" and implied that a new party is a necessity, indicating a broader political disillusionment.

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Absolute nullity is a dagger to democracy.