Latest news with #Ozel
Rudaw Net
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
AKP accuses CHP leader of threatening democracy
Also in Turkey AKP lawmaker says Turkey-PKK peace process to conclude by end of 2025 Poll shows 65 percent support for Turkey-PKK peace Turkey detains three opposition mayors Hope for peace grows with new library in Turkey's Hakkari A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Saturday lashed out at Ozgur Ozel, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), accusing his remarks of threatening democracy after three CHP mayors were detained on alleged corruption charges. 'His words have no value. Ozgur Ozel thinks elections are run with the same mentality as a CHP congress. Democracy and CHP congress mentality are not the same thing,' AKP spokesperson Omer Celik said, calling Ozel's remarks a 'threat to democracy.' Ozel on Saturday held a high-level CHP leadership meeting and threatened to call on citizens to take to the streets in large-scale demonstrations after three CHP mayors in southern Turkey were detained. 'You fear mass gatherings and demonstrations, so when I call people to the squares, you immediately take harsh security measures and ban them. Demonstrations are democracy. I know what day I will call people to the streets. Do not make me call people to the streets,' Ozel told reporters after the meeting. Turkish authorities on Saturday detained the mayors of the southern cities of Antalya and Adana, as well as the southeastern Kurdish city of Adiyaman (Semsur) – all CHP members – on charges of fixing tenders through bribing mayors and senior municipal executives. The arrests came as part of a wider investigation into alleged graft within CHP-led administrations, according to the state-owned Anadolu Agency. The practice of dismissing elected officials has been ongoing for years. Dozens of mainly Kurdish mayors have been removed from their posts since 2016 and sentenced on terrorism-related charges for alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Ankara has designated a terrorist organization. More recently, the AKP-led government has cracked down on CHP and other opposition mayors, detaining them largely on cases of alleged corruption. On Thursday, a raid sparked by an alleged corruption case at the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality - a key CHP bastion - resulted in the arrests of 60 people, including former Izmir mayor Tunc Soyer and the head of CHP's Izmir branch Senol Aslanoglu. In March, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was sacked from his position on charges of corruption. Considered the main rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the upcoming 2028 elections, his arrest sparked Turkey's worst unrest in a decade, which in turn led to a massive crackdown on protests. The dismissed mayors are replaced with state-appointed trustees.
04-05-2025
- Politics
A man attacks Turkish opposition leader in Istanbul, raising fears over politicians' safety
ISTANBUL -- The leader of Turkey's main opposition party was attacked as he left a memorial ceremony in Istanbul on Sunday. Ozgur Ozel, who heads the Republican People's Party, or CHP, was leaving the Ataturk Cultural Center in the city center when a white-haired man approached him and struck him in the face with an open hand, televised footage showed. Ozel, who was attending a memorial for Sirri Sureyya Onder, a pro-Kurdish politician who died Saturday, was said to be unhurt. The suspect was detained, according to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The Interior Ministry later said the attacker was a 66-year-old man who killed his two children in 2004 and was released on parole in 2020. The Cumhuriyet newspaper reported that he shot and stabbed his son and daughter, aged 19 and 17, respectively. The incident renewed fears over the safety of politicians in Turkey. In 2019, Ozel's predecessor as CHP leader, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, was assaulted while attending a soldier's funeral in Ankara province.
Hamilton Spectator
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
A man attacks Turkish opposition leader in Istanbul, raising fears over politicians' safety
ISTANBUL (AP) — The leader of Turkey's main opposition party was attacked as he left a memorial ceremony in Istanbul on Sunday. Ozgur Ozel, who heads the Republican People's Party, or CHP, was leaving the Ataturk Cultural Center in the city center when a white-haired man approached him and struck him in the face with an open hand, televised footage showed. Ozel, who was attending a memorial for Sirri Sureyya Onder , a pro-Kurdish politician who died Saturday, was said to be unhurt. The suspect was detained, according to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. The Interior Ministry later said the attacker was a 66-year-old man who killed his two children in 2004 and was released on parole in 2020. The Cumhuriyet newspaper reported that he shot and stabbed his son and daughter, aged 19 and 17, respectively. The incident renewed fears over the safety of politicians in Turkey. In 2019, Ozel's predecessor as CHP leader, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, was assaulted while attending a soldier's funeral in Ankara province.
Rudaw Net
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Turkey's main opposition leader attacked in Istanbul
Also in Turkey Kurdish leaders praise peace efforts of Sirri Sureyya Onder who died Saturday Key member of Ankara-PKK peace talks team passes away Turkey's Gabar oil field production nears $2 billion: Erdogan PKK says expects Ocalan to lead party congress A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Ozgur Ozel, leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), was attacked in Istanbul on Sunday after attending the funeral of pro-Kurdish politician Sirri Sureyya Onder. Ozel was slapped in the face after attending the funeral in Istanbul. The attacker was immediately detained and taken into custody, the opposition ANKA media outlet reported. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Ozel after the attack 'to express his best wishes for a speedy recovery, and stated that he is closely following the process to ensure the incident is fully investigated,' Fahrettin Altun, head of communications for the Turkish presidency, said on X. The attack was strongly condemned by Erdogan and major voices across Turkey, including the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party). 'This attack is essentially a provocation for the search for peace and a democratic society, embodied by Sirri Sureyya Onder,' the DEM Party said in a statement, condemning the attack and wishing a speedy recovery. Onder, 62, was a member of the Turkish parliament on the ticket of the DEM Party. He was part of the Imrali delegation that visited jailed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader in his Imrali island prison and is mediating peace talks between the PKK and the Turkish state. His death comes at a pivotal moment in the negotiations. The attacker, identified as 66-year-old S.T., has a criminal record from a 2004 trial for killing two of his children and injuring the two others. 'There is no sign of mental illness, according to the first determinations,' ANKA said, citing a statement from Istanbul's public prosecutor. 'He has a record for theft and crimes of threat. S.T., who was sentenced to life imprisonment, was released on parole in 2020,' the interior ministry said, and Minister Ali Yerlikaya asserted that the assailant 'will receive the punishment he deserves before the law.' The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) also condemned the attack. 'We condemn the attack on CHP leader Ozgur Ozel. We extend our best wishes to Mr. Ozel. No attack on the institution of politics is acceptable. The attacker will be held accountable before the law,' AKP spokesperson Omer Celik said.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
04-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Turkey opposition leader Özgür Özel attacked at Istanbul event, sparking safety concerns
The leader of Turkey's main opposition party Ozgur Ozel was attacked as he left a memorial ceremony in Istanbul on Sunday. read more Özgür Özel, leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), was slapped by an assailant on Sunday as he was leaving an event in Istanbul. The incident, captured on camera, showed Özel holding his head in pain while the attacker was swiftly apprehended. Authorities identified the suspect by his initials, S.T., and media reports said he is an unemployed man with a criminal record. Televised footage showed a white-haired man approaching Ozel outside the Ataturk Cultural Center and striking him in the face with an open hand. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office later confirmed that the attacker had been detained. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ozel had been attending a memorial for Sirri Sureyya Onder, a prominent pro-Kurdish politician who passed away on Saturday. Despite the shock of the incident, the CHP leader was reported to be unharmed. The assault has drawn parallels with a 2019 attack on Ozel's predecessor, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who was also assaulted while attending a soldier's funeral in Ankara province, further stoking concerns about the security environment for opposition politicians in Turkey. Last month, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan filed a criminal complaint for insulting the president against Ozgur Ozel, who said that the country was 'governed by a junta that is afraid of elections'.
