Turkish far-right mob boss threatens main opposition CHP leader

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Notorious mafia leader Alaattin Çakıcı, whose ties to the deep state and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) are known, has threatened main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu over the latter's criticism of the government for allowing the release of “mafia leaders and drug traffickers.”

Çakıcı was released from prison on April 16 as part of an amnesty law that was drafted by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its ally MHP. Journalists and political prisoners were excluded from the government's amnesty law.

During a parliamentary group meeting on Nov. 17, Kılıçdaroğlu criticized the government after its recent promise that it will start a period of “legal reform.”

“Will you [government] stop releasing mafia leaders, drug traffickers and jailing thought criminals?” Kılıçdaroğlu asked during his speech.

Çakıcı's release had been a long-term project for MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli. Shortly after calling for a general amnesty on May 12, 2018, Bahçeli had paid a visit to Çakıcı in prison, who he deemed “a lover of the nation.”

Çakıcı released a statement on Twitter on Nov. 17 telling Kılıçdaroğlu to “watch your step.” “If you put Bahçeli in the same pot as traitors, you would be making the mistake of your life,” Çakıcı wrote.

“You and your party's executives are saying that there is no democracy [in Turkey] and talking against the president. If there had been a dictatorial regime in our country, you would have been all impaled,” he wrote.

Turkey releases notorious mafia leader Alaattin Çakıcı with ties to nationalist party from prisonPolitics