YENİ Party opens Beşiktaş district office, releases white doves

YENİ Party opened its Beşiktaş district headquarters on September 1, choosing World Peace Day for a ceremony that combined party messages with a public display of white doves.

Beşiktaş district chairman Mehmet Arslan, Istanbul lawmaker Gökan Zeybek, Aydın lawmaker Süleyman Bülbül and Istanbul provincial chairman Özgür Çelik addressed residents outside the new office. Speakers also sent greetings to Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat. Bülbül conveyed greetings from Kuşadası Mayor Ömer Günel, whom he said he had visited in prison in Tekirdağ that day.

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Peace at home, peace in the world.

Çelik said the party had opened district offices in Kadıköy, Şişli and Bahçelievler during the anniversary of the August 30 Victory Day. He described the Beşiktaş opening as especially meaningful because it took place on World Peace Day. “Peace at home, peace in the world,” Atatürk’s maxim, would guide the party, he said, adding calls for peace, justice and democracy.

Çelik then turned to the cases of İmamoğlu and Akpolat. He said İmamoğlu, whom he described as the party’s presidential candidate, and Akpolat, Beşiktaş’s elected mayor, were being held at Silivri prison because the party had put forward a strong claim to govern. He accused unnamed opponents of trying to shape politics through the judiciary and seeking a controlled opposition.

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The people founded YENİ Party, the people built its budget, and the people gave it its name.

He portrayed Akpolat as resisting pressure and threats without retreating. According to Çelik, Akpolat had said in his defense that he expected his remarks might bring punishment, but that he had to speak the truth and stood with party leader Özgür Özel and YENİ Party.

After the speeches, participants marched to Barbaros Square. White doves were released there to mark World Peace Day.

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I may be punished because of this speech. But I have to speak the truth. A new path has been opened in Turkey under the leadership of Özgür Özel. I stand with our chairman Özgür Özel and YENİ Party.