Imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Sends Message from Jail

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was arrested on Thursday, has called for increased action and louder protests against the authorities’ decision to detain him, which has sparked widespread demonstrations across Turkey.

In his first statement since his arrest, İmamoğlu wrote on his X account:
“You cannot, and must not, remain silent. This has gone beyond our parties—this is now about our nation. It is time to raise your voices against what I call ‘evil’; this is a duty for everyone, including government politicians.”

İmamoğlu, a member of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), also urged politicians from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its allied parties to speak out in defense of Turkey’s political principles and national sovereignty.

Meanwhile, the CHP has called for more protests in Istanbul on Thursday, as the city’s mayor remains in custody after being summoned as a witness in a case related to corruption and terrorism charges.