Response from AK Party member Özbudun to Özel

On a date I cannot remember (they can be found if phone records are examined), the advisor of Antalya Deputy Aliye Coşar called my advisor and asked, "I heard that Deputy Serap will be joining us. Is it true?" My advisor's answer was, "Where did you hear this? I have no idea. I am hearing it from you for the first time."

There was no communication on this issue for a long time afterwards. On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, Berna Polat called my mobile phone via Whatsapp and said, “Teacher, can we talk? There is an important matter.” At that very moment, I had arrived in front of the Future Party Headquarters. I was about to attend a meeting. Therefore, I stated that I could listen to her briefly. Berna Polat said to me, “Our General Chairman, Mr. Özgür Özel, wants to meet with you.” I told her that my schedule was busy on Tuesday and Wednesday (January 14-15, 2025), and therefore I would not be able to meet before Thursday. My advisor is also a witness to this dialogue.

On January 15, 2025, while I was at the meeting of the Research Commission on Preventing All Forms of Violence and Discrimination Against Women, Berna Polat, who could not reach me because her mobile phone was in airplane mode, called my advisor from her personal phone, but since she was accompanying me to the meeting and could not answer her phone, Berna Polat wrote the following message to my advisor: "The chairman wants to meet, Mustafa Erdem called, Serap Hoca's phone is off. How can we do this?" I can prove this correspondence.

After the commission meeting ended, I came to the deputies' restaurant in the TBMM Main Building and after ordering my food, I called Mr. Mustafa Erdem from my mobile phone registered in my name at 19:19. Mr. Mustafa Erdem was at the Planning and Budget Commission Meeting. "The General Chairman wants to see you, sir." he said. I asked in surprise, "When? Now?" "Yes, sir, because tomorrow morning he will go to Istanbul to support the Beşiktaş Mayor," he said. I told him that I was eating at that moment, that I had been in a meeting all day, and that I could not go anywhere without finishing my meal. "Let's go right after dinner, sir," he said. I asked him where this meeting would be. I would not accept it if it were outside, at any restaurant. "At the General Directorate," he said. "Okay, let me finish my meal and let's go," I said.

At 19:48 and 20:01, Mustafa Erdem Bey called me again and said that we had to go as soon as possible. I said, "Okay, let me finish my meal. I'll see you in my office." Because the Planning and Budget Committee is close to my office.

At 20:16, my third advisor sent a message to my first advisor saying, "Our Antalya MP has arrived, they are waiting for our teacher in the room, let me inform you that we will go somewhere with Serap teacher." I can also prove this correspondence.

Finally, I went up to my room. Mr. Mustafa Erdem came to my vehicle. We went to the CHP Headquarters in my vehicle. My third advisor was driving my vehicle and my first advisor was also in the vehicle. When we arrived at the CHP Headquarters, my first advisor, me and Antalya CHP MP Mustafa Erdem went up to the General Presidency floor.

In the Private Secretary's office, the Private Secretary's Office Lady welcomed us. We sat in this room for a while. At that time, the independent İzmir Deputy Mr. Salih Uzun came out of the General Chairman's office and Özgür Özel said "Welcome, Professor" and took Mustafa Erdem and me to his office.

'I RESPONDED TO ÖZEL'S OFFER BY 'I WOULD HAVE A TEXTURE DISPUTE WITH YOUR PARTY'

He stated that they would be pleased if I joined the CHP, that a constitutional change was awaiting Turkey, that this change would perhaps lead to a semi-presidential system, and that their young constitutional expert, Deputy Gökçe Gökçen, would also be very pleased if I joined the CHP.

I said to him, "Mr. Chairman, first of all, thank you for your invitation." I replied, "However, I think there will be a tissue incompatibility between you and your Party. What do you think?" I listed the reasons for this tissue incompatibility as follows.

First and foremost, you created the 367 crisis. Together with my teacher Ergun, we passionately defended that this crisis was against the Constitution. This crisis you created eventually led to the 2007 Constitutional amendment. With this amendment, the rule that ensures the election of the President by the people was accepted. This Constitutional amendment prepared the ground for the Presidential Government System that we complain about today.

Secondly, for nearly 40 years, you have condemned Turkish politics to the headscarf issue. I also believe in the importance of the principle of secularism. Because this principle is actually the guarantee of religious freedom. However, you cannot force a woman to choose between religious freedom and freedom of education, religious freedom and freedom of work on the grounds that you protect secularism. Since a religious man has both religious freedom and freedom of education and work at the same time, a woman cannot be deprived of this right. We differ from you on this point as well," I said.

He told me that he had changed his views on this issue and that he was holding transfer talks with a headscarf-wearing MP who entered the Parliament from the CHP lists.

"Finally, thirdly, you accused us of introducing sharia and federalism without reading the Civil Constitution Draft that we prepared under the chairmanship of my teacher Ergun in 2007. Thus, you prevented a great opportunity for Turkey. Mr. Chairman, have you ever read this draft?" I asked.

He told me that he had not read the draft but had read a report written on it. "Don't trust such reports," I said. "Read the text itself."

While this dialogue was taking place between us, Özgür Özel was writing on his mobile phone, thinking that I would not notice it because I did not see it. In fact, he was not fully concentrating on this dialogue. Since this was a great disrespect towards me, I said, “Mr. Chairman, you are going to Istanbul tomorrow. I also need to be at the General Assembly.” I added, “Therefore, I ask for your permission.” Moreover, I put an end to it by saying, “Mr. Chairman, I have an invitation from the AK Party. I have not made my decision yet.”

He said that he would respect me if I continued to stay in the Future Party, and that he did not find it right if I accepted the invitation from the AK Party. I politely stated that I had not yet made up my mind and stood up. He helped me. My advisor, who was waiting in the private secretary's office, immediately came and joined us. So we left there and came to the TBMM.

On January 31, 2025, Berna Polat sent a Whatsapp message to my advisor. My advisor gave her a negative response upon my instructions. This correspondence is as follows. I can also prove this correspondence.

'Hello Ms. Meltem, how are you? I would like to have a WhatsApp conversation with my attorney today. When are you available?

Hello Berna President, I'm fine, thank you... How are you? Serap Hocam is going to visit her late husband at the cemetery today. Would it be appropriate if I let you know afterwards? Hope to see you...'

I did not respond to Ms. Berna's request. Ms. Berna called me several times in the following dates. I did not answer the phone. I am making all these statements to inform the public regarding Mr. Özgür Özel's speech containing slander against me at the group meeting on February 25, 2025.

NOTE: I do not publish screenshots of all correspondence due to my respect for personal data.

Kind regards.

Prof. Dr. Serap Yazıcı Özbudun"