Liberal Party, Demands Release of Münir Korkmaz and Ahmet Erkan

The Liberal Party has voiced strong opposition to the detention of Münir Korkmaz and Ahmet Erkan, who were taken into custody during early-morning raids on their homes in Adana. Describing the operation as a serious concern for fundamental rights, press freedom and freedom of expression, the party called for both men to be released without delay.

In a statement, Liberal Party Chairman Zübeyir Gülabi said that Korkmaz and Erkan had been unjustly detained. He added that the party’s legal team was closely monitoring developments. Referring to the ongoing controversy surrounding alleged fund-related corruption, Gülabi also made a pointed remark: “Those who loot funds cannot demand explanations about Patreon accounts.”

Avcı Demands Legal Grounds for Detentions

Liberal Party spokesperson Engin Avcı questioned the legal basis of the operation, asking which provisions of the law had been invoked to detain the two men. He called on the authorities responsible to publicly disclose the specific legal grounds for their actions.

Avcı emphasized that Articles 19 and 26 of the Turkish Constitution protect individual liberty and security as well as freedom of expression. He warned that if Korkmaz and Erkan had been detained solely for expressing their opinions or criticizing the government, their fundamental constitutional rights would have been violated.

He also argued that the conduct of the officials involved should be examined under the law, particularly in relation to Article 109 of the Turkish Penal Code, which concerns unlawful deprivation of liberty, and Article 257, which addresses abuse of public office.

Recalling that Article 2 of the Constitution defines Türkiye as a democratic, secular and social state governed by the rule of law, Avcı issued a strong warning:

“No one has the right to turn Türkiye into a country resembling North Korea, where people are detained because of their opinions.”

“Criticism Is Not a Crime”

Avcı also highlighted the personal backgrounds of the two detainees, describing Ahmet Erkan as a journalist and the child of a fallen soldier, while noting that Münir Korkmaz has spent years advocating for human rights.

He stated that they had not witnessed any unlawful activities by either individual and stressed that investigations in a state governed by the rule of law must focus on alleged criminal acts rather than personal opinions or political criticism.

“Criticism is not a crime. In a state governed by the rule of law, investigations must focus on acts that constitute criminal offences, not on people’s opinions,” Avcı said.

The Liberal Party reiterated its commitment to defending individual freedoms, freedom of expression and the right to organize. It renewed its demand for the immediate release of Münir Korkmaz and Ahmet Erkan, emphasizing that fundamental rights and freedoms must be protected regardless of political views.

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