Mardin Metropolitan Municipality Co-mayor Ahmet Türk, released from prison yesterday, said oppression won’t achieve results and added: “You can silence the society, but you can never wipe out resistance.”
Mardin Metropolitan Municipality Co-mayor Ahmet Türk was arrested on November 24 following the appointment of a trustee to the Mardin Metropolitan Municipality, and was first exiled to Istanbul Silivri Prison, and was later transferred to Elazığ Prison. Türk was released from prison after two and a half months when his lawyers appealed to the Forensic Medicine Institution due to his health condition.
Ahmet Türk spoke to ANF after his release and said the current methods of oppression and attacks won’t achieve results. Türk also touched upon the referendum and, stating that a healthy referendum can’t be held under the current atmosphere of pressure, demanded the necessary conditions for everybody to run referendum campaigns on equal ground to be met.
“IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT WE WON’T BE INTIMIDATED”
Türk stressed that he couldn’t celebrate his release and said: “We have friends left behind, so my joy is a bittersweet one. All politicians and all other political prisoners need to be freed as well. Only then can we have joy.”
Türk stated that his imprisonment was meant as intimidation, and that it has been understood that that is not possible. Türk said the state had tried to achieve results through politics of oppression and intimidation for a hundred years, and added that it is impossible.
Türk said HDP MP İdris Baluken’s release alongside him could be a step and added: “I wish my and Mr. Baluken’s releases are a step. After this period, everybody should focus on the solution. Everybody can see that oppression doesn’t provide results. You can silence the people, but you can never wipe out resistance. That is why a solution must come back into focus at once.”
“NECESSARY CONDITIONS FOR A REFERENDUM SHOULD BE MET”
On the referendum, Türk said: “Our thoughts on that matter are already known. You can’t have a healthy referendum in this atmosphere. The conditions for all to declare their preference equally and freely, and to carry out their campaign efforts must be provided. Otherwise the referendum won’t be under healthy conditions and nobody will be content with that.”
Türk sent his regards to all his friends he left behind, and thanked all groups who fought for his release.
Ahmet Türk shared his belief that they will certainly prevail, and expressed that they won’t be intimidated by these practices.
