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The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday launched an investigation into Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Ozgur Ozel over remarks he made against Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akin Gurlek, who oversaw a corruption probe in March targeting then-Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu that led to his arrest.
The statements were delivered on Wednesday at an event organized by CHP in Istanbul’s Beyoglu district as part of the campaign launched by the party after corruption and terrorism investigations into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
According to information obtained from the prosecutor’s office, the inquiry concerns allegations of "insulting a public official" and "threatening a public official."
During his speech at the rally, Ozel accused Gurlek of applying judicial standards unevenly depending on political affiliation.
He criticized the treatment of lawyers defending opposition figures, contrasting it with the handling of those linked to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
He argued that lawyers defending opposition figures were subjected to harsh measures, including being taken from their homes with large numbers of police officers.
"When a lawyer is with the ruling party, you respect the law, but when defending the opposition, you do not. What kind of lawman is that? I will confront you, Akin Gurlek; know this," Ozel said.
Ozel used language that prosecutors later described as constituting a threat.
Responding to Ozel's statements, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc called on the CHP leader to show restraint and allow judicial processes to run their course.
He said that corruption probes should be evaluated through legal channels rather than political rallies.
"We recommend that he should calmly and seriously wait for the results of the corruption investigations, instead of climbing to the top of slander production," he said.
“He should move forward with honest and level-headed politics."
Under Turkish law, insulting a public official in relation to their duties carries a prison sentence of one to two years, or alternatively, a judicial fine.
Threatening a public official with the intent to obstruct their duties is punishable by six months to three years in prison. If the offense is directed at a member of the judiciary, the sentence increases to two to four years.
The investigation will examine whether Ozel’s remarks fall within the scope of these provisions.
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