CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu: If He Can be a President, Why is He Behind Bars?

* Photograph: Murat Kaynak - Ankara / AA

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Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu spoke at the weekly group meeting of his party yesterday (July 2).

Kılıçdaroğlu started his speech by commemorating the ones who lost their lives in Sivas massacre 26 years ago:

"Those people wanted to tell something with their words, with their songs. A massacre of humanity occurred in Madımak on July 2, people were burned to death alive. We will not forget it or let it be forgotten."

CLICK - The Ones Massacred in Madımak Commemorated in Sivas

Kılıçdaroğlu touched upon a series of issues in his speech, including the imprisoned politicians and journalists, the judicial reform strategy document and Turkey-US relations. Some highlights from his speech were as follows:

'The poor serve time in prison, is this justice?'

"We want justice for everyone, we want it for the universe. I imprison my political opponent, but I will speak outside. Is this justice? The poor will serve time in prison, is this justice?

"Why are Eren Erdem and Osman Kavala behind bars? Sırrı Süreyya Önder is a political intellectual of importance. Why is an important intellectual behind bars, let alone a politician?

'Why are they behind bars?'

"For what reason are Ahmet Altan, Nazlı Ilıcak and Selahattin Demirtaş behind bars? He says, 'I will run for president.' They answer, 'You can.' He runs in the elections, but they say, 'You will stay in prison.' I want to ask everyone who is conscientious and demands justice: If a person can be the President, why is he behind bars?

"Justice for not only us, but for everyone... We want justice for humans, for the universe. The academics signatory to the peace declaration... You might like their opinions or not... But, why are they behind bars? Why are the daily Cumhuriyet columnists behinds bars?

'We will look at the draft and see if there is reform'

"Canan Kaftancıoğlu posted tweets six years ago. You have become successful, eh? 'OK, then, come to the court.' Where is justice?

"An investigation against Meral Akşener on FETÖ charges... They have imposed a confidentiality order on the file. Ms. Akşener says, 'What confidentiality do you talk about? Summon me and I will come to depose.'

"Then, they say, 'We will introduce a judicial reform.' We will look at the draft law and see if there is really a reform or not.

'Priest released upon Trump's instruction'

"You have probably seen the photograph taken in Osaka. U.S. President Donald Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan are standing side by side. There are flags behind them. There is the U.S. delegation, with their notebooks in their hands. Our delegation does not have anything at all. When Trump sees that, he says, 'We can shoot a Hollywood with them.'

"He thanks Erdoğan for releasing the priest. The priest was released upon the instruction of Trump. Is this what you call justice? If you are in favor of justice, then you should not vote for the AK Party or Erdoğan anymore.

'They say, "You cannot demand justice"'

"The Şule Çet case is on July 10. This daughter of ours was first raped, then thrown off the 20th floor of a building. Her father seeks justice. They say, 'You cannot demand justice.' The ones who first raped Şule Çet and threw her from the 20th floor have money. What does Şule Çet's father have? But, there is Republican People's Party in this country." (AS/SD)