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Turkish prosecutors have launched an investigation against main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Ozgur Ozel for statements he made about Istanbul's chief prosecutor during a party rally in Gaziosmanpasa district.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced it had initiated an ex officio investigation against Ozel for his remarks targeting Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akin Gurlek during the rally.
"An investigation has been launched against CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel for his statements about Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akin Gurlek at today's rally in our province, on charges of 'threatening a judicial officer to prevent them from performing their duties' and 'public insult to a public official for their duties,'" the prosecutor's office stated.
The CHP rally in Istanbul's Gaziosmanpasa district was organized following corruption and terrorism investigations targeting Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) officials.
Multiple municipal officials, including 11 mayors, have been detained or arrested in recent operations.
During his speech, Ozel claimed he had come from Silivri's Marmara Closed Penal Institution and brought greetings from detained Gaziosmanpasa Mayor Hakan Bahcetepe.
In his rally speech, Ozel made direct statements targeting prosecutor Gurlek, using threatening language that drew immediate official condemnation.
"Akin, you hit a hard rock, son. Get your act together. I will not see that indignity again," Ozel said during the rally, addressing the prosecutor by his first name.
He continued with more threatening rhetoric: "I'm asking all of Istanbul, let them hear the answer from here. If anyone takes images that will be hard on our families, children, and elders again, are you ready to make both the one who takes and the one who orders it a thousand times sorry? We are at the end of our patience."
During the rally, Ozel argued that his party held moral and psychological superiority, stating, "Look at this square, who has psychological superiority? Who has the majority of energy? Of course we will win; we are right."
He defended the arrested mayors, calling them "clean and hardworking" and claiming their only crime was "succeeding and winning."
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Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc strongly condemned Ozel's remarks, calling them unacceptable threats against judicial members.
"The CHP chairman's threatening statements targeting our Istanbul chief public prosecutor and judicial members over ongoing investigations are absolutely unacceptable," Tunc wrote on social media.
"No one can target our judicial members and direct the judiciary through threats. These reckless and irresponsible statements directly target the rule of law and judicial independence," he added.
Tunc emphasized Article 138 of the Constitution, which states that judges and prosecutors perform their duties only according to law and conscience, without taking instructions from any person, office, or authority.
"The Turkish judiciary continues its duties independently and impartially. Our judges and prosecutors will not bow to threats; the scales of justice will continue to operate only with law, unaffected by any pressure," the justice minister stated.
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Chairman and Spokesperson Omer Celik also condemned Ozel's language, saying it lacked political etiquette and basic political values.
"Ozgur Ozel's language toward our president lacks political etiquette and the most basic political values. We strongly condemn the language Ozgur Ozel used toward our president," Celik said.
He characterized Ozel's recent statements as stepping outside legitimate political discourse: "Ozgur Ozel's threatening statements targeting the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor and judicial members are unacceptable in any way. This is not political language, and this cannot be a way of opposition."
Celik called on Ozel to address corruption allegations within his own party rather than threatening judicial institutions.
"CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel should primarily address the corruption and irregularity allegations raised by CHP politicians themselves regarding their party in many areas," Celik stated.
"Instead of facing these allegations, CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel is using threatening language targeting judicial institutions. CHP management should stop agenda manipulation, and answering corruption allegations should be their main business."
In addition to the Istanbul investigation, the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has also launched an ex officio investigation against Ozel for his statements about the Istanbul prosecutor.
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