European mayors on Thursday hailed the “courage” of Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is jailed on graft charges, during a visit to the Turkish metropolis.
The 10-strong delegation, which went to Istanbul City Hall and Silivri prison on the western outskirts of Istanbul where Imamoglu is detained, urged Turkish authorities to respect democracy and the rule of law.
Their visit was organised by the Eurocities network, representing more than 200 cities across 38 countries, in a show of support for Imamoglu, who was locked up in March over what critics say are politically motivated charges.
Imamoglu, in a statement relayed on his X account, expressed “sincere gratitude” to the European mayors, adding that their solidarity “strengthened the fight for the democratic future” in Turkey.
The delegation, accompanied by Imamoglu’s wife Dilek Kaya, included the mayors of Athens, Barcelona, Budapest, Sofia, Timisoara, Utrecht and Zagreb, and senior city representatives from Paris and Madrid.
A request for them to visit Imamoglu in prison was rejected by Turkey’s justice ministry, said acting Istanbul mayor Nuri Aslan, who also accompanied the group.
“European mayors stand together for freedom, democracy and the rule of law,” said Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni, who is Eurocities’ vice president.
“Mayor Imamoglu is not alone,” he said.
Imamoglu, who belongs to the main opposition CHP party, is the biggest political challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
His arrest in March triggered Turkey’s worst street protests in more than a decade. He also faces a string of other charges which could prevent him from running in the next presidential race scheduled for 2028.
Over the past 10 months, Turkish authorities have detained 17 CHP mayors, including Imamoglu, and replaced elected officials in at least three municipalities with government-appointed trustees.
Imamoglu, in a statement read out by his wife, said: “We live in an age where justice has been turned into a weapon… But know that my determination has not wavered… Even behind bars, I continue to fight for democracy.”
Zagreb mayor Tomislav Tomasevic said the crackdown on opposition CHP mayors was worrying. “I am personally convinced that Mayor Imamoglu is innocent … (he) is one of the most respected mayors in all Europe,” he said.
Utrecht mayor Sharon Dijksma said the visit aimed to “raise awareness and put pressure on those who can change this situation”.
“It should end now: please free Imamoglu,” she said.
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© Agence France-Presse
