Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has threatened to imprison Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), and Meral Aksener, leader of the nationalist opposition Good Party (IYI), just days before Turkey’s local elections on March 31.
“These are the good days of your life. You thought you could make me pay by accusing me of saying something that I actually did not. But you are the ones who will be made to pay,” Erdogan said, addressing Aksener during an election rally held in the central province of Konya, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Friday.
Erdogan was referring to the incident where Aksener greeted the crowds during a rally in Denizli province, saying “Oh, terrorists, how are you?” using Erdogan’s labeling. Erdogan had called the opposition parties an “alliance of dishonor” and “pro-terror” during a rally at the same province, also labeling the parties’ voters.
Erdogan continued to accuse opposition parties of cooperating with or supporting terrorist groups. “Am I so much of a fool to call my citizens terrorists?” he scolded. Filing a complaint against Aksener with the allegation of “insulting the president,” he subsequently threatened her with imprisonment on March 9.
The president threatened Aksener again during a rally held on Friday, saying that she will be “made to pay.”
CHP leader Kilicdaroglu was also threatened by Erdogan during the same rally. “Mr. Kemal trusts in being a deputy [and having parliamentary immunity]. I’m currently making my lawyers deal with that [removing the immunity] by applying to the court,” Erdogan said.
The president accused opposition parties of supporting terrorist groups once again on Friday, and said: “We cannot let those, who act against the law and stand shoulder to shoulder with terrorists, walk freely.”
“Bring it on!” Fahrettin Yokus, IYI Party deputy for Konya province tweeted on Friday in answer to Erdogan’s threat against the party leader.
Ak Parti Genel Başkanı Tayyip Erdoğan,Konya Mitinginde Genel Başkanımız Sayın Meral AKŞENER Hanıma " Bu günler senin için iyi günler Asıl Fatura Sana kesilecek " deyerek bir kez daha tehdit etmiş .Ben de diyorum ki : Ey ! Erdoğan Cümrün kadar yer yakarsın . Hodri meydan ..!
— Fahrettin Yokuş (@FahrettinYokus) March 22, 2019
Labeling dissidents “terrorists” is something Erdogan has been doing frequently as an instrument just days before the upcoming elections. He accuses opposition parties of terrorist propaganda and threatens to imprison them.
Erdogan had called on public prosecutors to do their jobs, pointing out remarks and actions of Selahattin Demirtas, the former co-leader of pro-Kurdish opposition People’s Democratic Party (HDP). Demirtas was arrested in November 2016. He is still in jail facing possible prison sentences totaling more than 100 years on various terrorism charges.
Erdogan and his ally see half of the country as terrorists: Main opposition leader
The post Turkish President threatens to jail two opposition party leaders ahead of elections appeared first on IPA NEWS.
from IPA NEWS https://ipa.news/2019/03/25/turkish-president-threatens-to-jail-two-opposition-party-leaders-ahead-of-elections/
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