Turkish authorities have initiated a new investigation against opposition leader Özgür Özel, head of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), over remarks criticizing the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor.
Özel accused the prosecutor, Akin Gurlek, former deputy justice minister, of intensifying criminal prosecutions against opponents of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Speaking at a rally in Istanbul on Wednesday, Özel alleged that Gurlek is attempting to “fabricate crimes” to weaken the opposition.
The Ankara prosecutor’s office has launched the investigation for alleged “threats and insults against a public official”, AFP reported. A similar investigation by the Istanbul prosecutor’s office was already opened in early June.
The Turkish opposition claims that Gurlek is acting in obedience to government authorities, amplifying investigations against Ekrem İmamoğlu, the popular Istanbul mayor from CHP who has been imprisoned since March. CHP, which won last year’s local elections, defeated the ruling party of President Erdoğan.
