HDP's Çelik: Nobody can usurp people's will

Çelik said that telephone conversations she made with people who had been acquitted or who were on trial for “membership of the organization” were used as evidence of a crime in the investigation opened against her.

Eylem Çelik, co-mayor of Iğdır who was dismissed by the AKP / MHP, was released on condition of judicial control. 

Çelik, who had been held at the Provincial Security Directorate for 5 days, was brought to the courthouse to give a statement to the prosecutor on Wednesday. Çelik was then released by the Criminal Judge of Peace, on the condition of judicial control.

Çelik said that telephone conversations she made with people who had been acquitted or who were on trial for “membership of the organization” were used as evidence of a crime in the investigation opened against her. In addition, joining the dinner organized by HDP Iğdır Provincial organization for co-chair Yaşar Akkuş, who was taken into custody on Tuesday, was also considered evidence of a crime.

Çelik said that another accusation directed against her was to participate in the meeting to protest violence against women organized by her party. Stating that co-chairmanship was also an element of crime, for the investigation, Çelik added: “I said that my party has a statute, which is legal, and that cannot be used as an accusation against me.”

Çelik reminded that indeed the government had said late in 2018, that “there is no point [for the HDP] to contest the elections, as we will appoint trustees.”