Statement from Üsküdar Municipal Council Member Ayhan Aydın regarding 'threat' allegations

Municipal Council Member Ayhan Aydın's statement was taken in the investigation launched upon the statements made by New Party Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik following the Üsküdar Deputy Mayor election. Aydın claimed that he was not threatened by any person or authority, but that he was called several times by people around Çelik for pressure purposes before the election. An investigation was launched against Özgür Çelik and Üsküdar District Mayor for "threat" and "insult" crimes.

In his statement, Aydın said, "These words do not belong to me and what is said does not reflect the truth. I was not threatened by any person, institution or authority. The claim that a Public Prosecutor or another public official threatened me is completely unfounded. No such incident took place."

"ÖZGÜR ÇELİK NEVER CALLED ME"

Stating that Özgür Çelik did not call him, Aydın talked about the phone calls of people who said that they called him with Çelik's request before the election.

Aydın stated that he was called many times by these people and said, "Due to these repeated calls, my spiritual peace was disturbed and I was dragged to the point of experiencing panic attack crises."

Stating that he could not remember exactly what he and the other party said in some conversations due to the intense pressure he was under, Aydın said that he did not make a statement that he was threatened by the prosecutor. Aydın said, "I did not make a statement to Özgür Çelik or any other person that I was threatened by the prosecutor."

"I DID NOT FACE PRESSURE FROM MY DISABLED WIFE AND CHILD"

Rejecting the claim in Özgür Çelik's statement that he was under pressure from his disabled wife and child, Aydın said, "The claim that I was pressured from my disabled wife and child is also not true. It made me and my family members very upset that my family and child were drawn into a political debate in this way. I do not accept this."

"I MADE MY DECISION IN ACCORDANCE WITH MY OWN POLITICAL CONVISION"

Aydin, who also testified about his resignation from CHP and joining the AK Party, stated that his political decision was taken of his own free will.

Aydın said, "My resignation from the parliamentary membership and joining the AK Party was completely of my own free will. I made this decision after thinking for a long time, in line with my own political convictions."

"IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO STAY IN A STRUCTURE THAT WAS INCOMPATIBLE WITH MY OWN PRINCIPLES AND VALUES"

Stating that he expressed his views and criticisms within the party, Aydın said, "At this point, I saw that it was not possible for me to remain in a structure that is incompatible with my own principles and values, so I changed my political choice. This choice is not a result of pressure, but a completely conscientious conviction."

"MY FAMILY WAS VICTIMIZED AFTER MY POLITICAL CHOICE"

Stating that his right to political choice is guaranteed within the framework of the Constitution, Aydın stated that after he exercised this right, false statements were made about him and his family was also affected by this process. Aydin said that he did not accept the allegations in his statement to the prosecutor's office.