Gang leader writes letter to Erdoğan denying amnesty request for himself

Famous Turkish gang leader Alaattin Çakıcı has written a letter to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan amid a debate over general amnesty for criminals, asking for his exemption from a legal pardon.

“Mr. President, you don’t love me. I don’t love you, either. But as long as you remain head of state, loving your post and our state is an honor for me,” Çakıcı said.

“I’m not making a request for amnesty. I’ve never buttered up someone, and I don’t want anything for myself from you,” he added.

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli yesterday reiterated his offer for a general amnesty for criminals, including notorious gang leaders Çakıcı and Kürşat Yılmaz.

Bahçeli also visited Çakıcı in a hospital on May 23.

However, President Erdoğan repeatedly declined the suggestion.

“In this holy month, if you please mothers, fathers, children and wives who long for their family members staying inside the four walls [of prison], why can’t you win the election in the first round of votes?” Çakıcı wrote in his letter.

Turkey will hold snap presidential and parliamentary elections on June 24.