This interview goes far beyond my personal story. Hundreds of innocent people stand trial alongside me. The fate of an entire nation is being decided in a courtroom. Where there is no justice, there is no peace, no trust, no future. Yet I remain convinced that together we will build a Türkiye where the law is no longer weaponized for political reasons, but where politics is conducted with respect to the law. As long as we refuse to bow down, no one can break the will of this people. The truth never disappears.
My interview with Le Monde is in my link in bio. 🔗
Cette interview va bien au-delà de mon histoire personnelle. Des centaines d’innocents sont jugés à mes côtés. C’est dans une salle d’audience que se joue le sort de toute une nation. Là où il n’y a pas de justice, il n’y a ni paix, ni confiance, ni avenir. Pourtant, je reste convaincu qu’ensemble, nous construirons une Turquie où la loi ne sera plus utilisée comme une arme à des fins politiques, mais où la politique sera menée dans le respect de la loi. Tant que nous refuserons de nous incliner, personne ne pourra briser la volonté de ce peuple. La vérité ne disparaît jamais.
Mon entretien avec Le Monde est disponible via le lien dans ma bio. 🔗
Though written from a prison cell in Silivri, this article is not merely about my personal story.
It is a call to defend democracy, rule of law and a common future between Türkiye and Europe.
What has distanced Türkiye from Europe is not geography, but the erosion of democratic institutions, fundamental freedoms and judicial independence.
Europe, too, must move beyond fear, clichés and short-term calculations, and engage with Türkiye through the lens of shared values, democratic solidarity and strategic reality.
Despite everything, my belief remains unchanged: Türkiye’s future must lead toward democracy, human rights, the rule of law and a meaningful partnership with Europe.
My latest article’s link is in my bio.
Our teams are hosting the 17th Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Europe Congress in Istanbul. In my message to the participants from around Europe, I have underlined that our vision for smart mobility, data-driven governance, and sustainable transportation in Istanbul is on the right track.
Istanbul currently ranks first in the world for simultaneous metro projects, with seven different rail system lines covering 44.1 kilometers under construction at once. We have secured the position of first in Europe and third in the world in driverless metro operations through a massive digital transformation story.
Establishing smarter and cleaner transportation systems is not merely a choice but a profound responsibility toward future generations. We will never give up on working for the future of our people.
Although I have been held in a cell in Silivri for exactly four hundred days, my heart and support remain with those who work tirelessly for Istanbul and cultivate our collective wisdom. Our country is currently navigating a difficult test of democracy, but we will overcome these challenges through the will of our nation, the light of science, and the power of reason.
History doesn’t repeat itself but it rhymes.
The same playbook. The same charges built on testimony instead of evidence. The same timing, just before an election. The same attempt to remove a political leader not through the ballot box, but through a courthouse.
Lula was convicted and then the truth emerged. The judges coordinating with prosecutors. The reward waiting at the end of the verdict. The Supreme Court’s own words: “The prosecution, which charged others with crimes, itself engaged in criminal conduct.”
Lula won and he is president today.
We know how this story ends.
The latest example of this government’s recklessness is the Basilica Cistern.
The title deed of one of Istanbul’s most precious heritage sites, carefully restored by IMM (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality) Heritage and opened to millions, has been transferred to the Directorate General of Foundations (so to the government) without any legal or moral basis.
This is not new. It is the same unlawful pattern we have seen with Galata Tower, Gezi Park, Beykoz Social Facilities, Beşiktaş Ferry Terminal, and the Şerefiye Cistern.
Our legal struggle over Galata Tower since 2019 was rendered meaningless when the rules were changed mid-game. A new law was passed while the case was ongoing and then used to justify the seizure.
The pattern is clear, once the government decides to take something into their control, they do not listen to the law, to justice, or to the public conscience. If necessary, they change the law. If necessary, they change the judge. And in the end, they seize what they want.
But let it be known, these decisions are not final.
The final decision belongs to the nation.
From Silivri Prison, I shared my thoughts with Corriere della Sera on justice, democracy, and the future of our country.
I am imprisoned, but I have not lost hope. This process is not only about me; it is about restoring the rule of law in Türkiye. Our democracy may be going through a period of regression, but I believe in the strength of our society to overcome it.
I will continue my candidacy. Because this is not about one person. It is about millions who demand justice, freedom, and dignity.
Türkiye will rise again.
Read the full interview via the link in my bio.
Istanbul hosted the World Congress of the International Union of Socialist Youth today. Despite my current detention in Silivri, I was pleased to share a message of hope and democratic resilience with the next generation of global leaders.
In an era where democratic values are under threat, we must remember that solidarity is a choice. We choose to stand together against oppression. We choose to believe in justice over fear.
My commitment to millions of citizens who support our vision remains unshakable. As I told the youth today, the names of our struggles may differ, but our values of freedom, equality, and democracy are universal. The future belongs to those who refuse to surrender their ideals.
As I mark the completion of first year of my confinement in Silivri, I am deeply moved by the overwhelming wave of international solidarity that has reached me through these walls. Your powerful messages from across the globe have served as a democratic shield against what is correctly identified as an authoritarian purge aimed at silencing the opposition and the will of my people. Even as I face unprecedented lawfare, from the politically motivated cancellation of my university diploma to charges seeking more than 2,000 years in prison, your solidarity reminds me that the pursuit of justice and the rule of law knows no borders.
I am heartened to see that the democratic forces across the world acknowledge that this is not just an attack on one individual, but an assault on the very foundation of local democracy and the fundamental right of citizens to choose their own representatives. Your messages that I am ‘not alone’ echoed in the hearts of the tens of thousands who gathered at Saraçhane square on the 18th of March to defend democracy and justice. I remain certain that the ‘power of law’ will eventually triumph over the ‘law of power’. Thank you for standing with Istanbul, for defending our shared values.
I have written my last opinion piece on global affairs and democracy from Silivri Prison, on the first anniversary of my imprisonment.
The Iran crisis is not just a regional conflict. It is a stress test for the entire international order — and a warning that the old assumptions no longer hold.
When major powers choose coercion over diplomacy, who steps in? Middle powers. But to carry that responsibility, they must be more than strategically useful. They must be democratically legitimate.
A state that turns the rule of law into a weapon against its own citizens cannot be a credible partner for stability abroad. My country is a case in point.
The answer is not exclusion. It is solidarity — grounded in shared principles, the rule of law, and democratic norms. A new international order must be built not on the law of power, but on the power of law.
Even from a prison cell, I believe this is possible.
You can access the link to the article through my bio.
One year ago, democracy was put behind bars.
The imprisonment of Ekrem İmamoğlu was not just about one man but it was a test for justice, for institutions, and for the voice of millions.
Today, we remember. And we keep fighting 💪
Wer stark ist, muss andere nicht klein machen.
Güçlü insan başkasını ezmez! Ekrem’e özgürlük!
Heute vor einem Jahr wurde der Istanbul Oberbürgermeister Ekrem İmamoğlu verhaftet. Freiheit für Ekrem! #EkremImamoglu #CHP
Il y a un an, notre collègue Ekrem Imamoğlu, Maire d’Istanbul et citoyen d’honneur de Paris était arbitrairement arrêté.
Avec les maires européens, nous sommes à ses côtés et demandons sa libération !
Son combat pour la démocratie, les droits fondamentaux et l’État de droit est le nôtre.
Nous sommes mobilisés pour porter sa voix, celle d’un homme d’État qui incarne la liberté et le courage.
Nous soutenons également tous les maires turques qui se battent avec courage, et au prix de leur liberté.
-
Bir yıl önce, meslektaşımız İstanbul Belediye Başkanı Ekrem İmamoğlu, Paris’in fahri vatandaşı, keyfi bir şekilde tutuklandı.
Avrupalı belediye başkanlarıyla birlikte onun yanındayız ve serbest bırakılmasını talep ediyoruz.
Demokrasi, temel haklar ve hukuk devleti için verdiği mücadele bizim de mücadelemizdir.
Özgürlüğü ve cesareti temsil eden bir devlet adamının sesi olan onun sesini duyurmak için seferber olmuş durumdayız.
Ayrıca cesaretle ve özgürlükleri pahasına mücadele eden tüm Türk belediye başkanlarını da destekliyoruz.
@eurocities.eu
