Turkish Opposition Leader Challenges Justice Minister on Court Case Transparency

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel has sharply criticized Turkey's Justice Minister, accusing him of lacking shame and overstepping his bounds in commenting on the ongoing court case involving Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Speaking during a visit to local businesses in İzmit, Özel demanded greater transparency in the legal process, particularly concerning the İBB case.

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The Justice Minister came out yesterday, shamelessly and without any embarrassment, to comment on the polemic between a few slanderers and Ekrem Başkan, saying, 'Can you see? Now he is in a difficult situation. Does he want a live broadcast now?'

"The Justice Minister came out yesterday, shamelessly and without any embarrassment, to comment on the polemic between a few slanderers and Ekrem Başkan, saying, 'Can you see? Now he is in a difficult situation. Does he want a live broadcast now?'" Özel stated, directly addressing the minister's remarks. He asserted that his challenge was not to the minister himself but to the President who appointed him. "But I say to the one who appointed him, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: If you have the courage, we are here! Our demand for a live broadcast continues insistently."

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But I say to the one who appointed him, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: If you have the courage, we are here! Our demand for a live broadcast continues insistently.

Özel further accused the government of suppressing İmamoğlu's right to defense, drawing parallels to past judicial systems. He highlighted that even the military junta of September 12 allowed 20-day defenses, and that even during the trials involving FETÖ members, the right to defense was not restricted. "They have been slandering for a year and a half. They mentioned more than 150 incidents, but they could not prove any of them. They did not listen to the response to these," Özel said, referring to the prosecution's case against the mayor.

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The police raided the printing house that printed the book yesterday, and they confiscated the books. They decided to stop the printing and confiscate the book on the orders of the judicial gang.

The CHP leader also condemned the seizure of İmamoğlu's defense book, which was intended to present his side of the story to the public. "The police raided the printing house that printed the book yesterday, and they confiscated the books. They decided to stop the printing and confiscate the book on the orders of the judicial gang," he explained. Özel vowed that the CHP would not back down in their pursuit of justice and transparency, stating, "Whoever takes a step back in response to you is a coward. CHP looks forward, walks towards power when empowered, and practices positive politics."

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Whoever takes a step back in response to you is a coward. CHP looks forward, walks towards power when empowered, and practices positive politics.