CHP’s presidential candidate, the elected Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Ekrem İmamoğlu, gave his second testimony in the case where he is accused of threatening Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek. He began his historic defense by commemorating the late Mayor of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality, Ferdi Zeyrek. İmamoğlu said:

“Why are we — myself and my colleagues — in Silivri? Why are we imprisoned, why are we in captivity?”

He explained the reason, saying:

“Because we stood up to the mindset that says, ‘Whoever wins Istanbul wins Türkiye.’ I am here and imprisoned because I won the election three times. I am here because I have been the guardian of Istanbul. I am here because I have defended Istanbul — I have protected it from the betrayal, as they themselves described it, of years past. I am here because I stood against the canal, the looting, and the plunder. I am here because, for the first time in history, 15.5 million people participated in a primary and I received their support — I earned the favor of our people. I am here because I am a presidential candidate.”

Then he declared loudly to the nation:

“Are we being tried? No. We are not being tried. There is no trial here. We have been imprisoned for 90 days — in some cases, 250 days, since early October — subjected to judicial harassment, psychological torture, and exiled hundreds of kilometers away from our homes, both women and men. We are enduring cruelty and punishment — we are being directly punished.”

He continued:

“We are held captive by conspiracies, slanders, perception operations, false testimonies of secret witnesses, and the lies of people with criminal pasts. This is not a trial — this is direct punishment.”

İmamoğlu described the judicial abuses taking place in Türkiye:

“What’s happening in Türkiye’s judiciary has never been seen before. At dawn — in fact, in the dark hours before dawn — hundreds of police officers raid homes. With a single order, homes are raided. Yet these are people of honor, officials, politicians, who would come if summoned, who are ready to testify, to account for their actions. Instead, they are subjected to home raids, perception operations, and held in custody for five days — left hungry, thirsty, in filth, in disease, surrounded by the smell of drugs. This has happened again and again.”

He concluded:

“We are not being tried — we are being directly punished. Our friends in detention are being threatened by judicial authorities — threatened with their families, their jobs, their lives. They are told, ‘Say this and you’ll be released, don’t say that and this will happen.’ Are people threatened with their families? With their children? With the achievements of 70, 80, even 50 years of their lives? Is this what people are forced to endure? Is this justice? No. This is not justice. We are not on trial — we are being punished.”

Referring to the replacement of Hakan Bahçetepe, the duly elected Mayor of Gaziosmanpaşa, with a new appointee chosen by the municipal council, İmamoğlu sharply criticized the celebratory tone of government officials. He said:

“We are witnessing celebrations — cheers of joy — in an environment where the hunger for power has reached its peak, where someone who seized the seat of a usurped mayor is being congratulated. Is this justice? While the country is in flames, is this what we celebrate? Is this our vision of labor, of the future, of the rule of law?”

He continued:

“What holds a country together is not weapons, nor accumulated wealth. The only thing that keeps a nation standing is justice, fairness, and the rule of law. In a land without justice, there can be no investment, no peace, no future, no prosperity, no abundance, and no lasting wealth.”

İmamoğlu underlined that he is not alone in his struggle:

“I feel the voices of tens of millions of our people behind me — their trust, their gaze. I am a person who views life by combining emotions with reason. And so, my courage is rooted in both — and that courage will not waver for even a millimeter.

I will never stray in heart or mind. Because I know this: I am sustained by millions of our people.

This is not just my fight — it is the fight of all the children of this country, of our grandchildren, and of everyone who wants to see these courtrooms become true halls of justice in the future. That’s why I promise a future and a just system for everyone’s children. That is where I stand. I will be a soldier of that cause, a fighter for that cause, and I will stand by it at all times. This is the belief, the hope, the ideal I resist for — and I will continue to resist with unwavering resolve.”

“Now, let us come to the gravest issue — ‘the biggest radish,’ ‘the bull’s tail,’ ‘the octopus’s tentacles…’”

“My diploma — earned 31 years ago and as legitimate as my mother’s milk — is being annulled. What conscience allows this? What reason or logic does this make? And how is it being annulled? Through persistent interference. Despite the fact that it is not under the jurisdiction of a particular prosecutor’s office, repeated letters are being sent to the university’s rectorate. And within these letters, parentheses note: ‘There is an urgent need for use. Take immediate action!’ Parentheses: (YSK and the like!). Well, well, what a coincidence — university diplomas apparently only matter at one place in Türkiye: the Supreme Electoral Council, and only during presidential candidacy applications.”

“What is this? This is jabbing your finger into the nation’s eye. This is misery beyond description. ‘The bull’s tail,’ ‘the big radish,’ ‘the tentacles of the octopus’… What are we witnessing here? Is this a legal process? No. Ekrem İmamoğlu is not being tried — he is being punished.”

“The actions of a handful of scoundrels who have clearly lost their minds are devastating this country. They are disgracing it. My image is banned, my footage is banned, my social media is banned! I say this here and now: You will not be able to erase me from the hearts of the people! Because the hearts of these people are vast! I address those who made these decisions:

You will not erase me from the hearts of this nation. This love will only grow, and grow, and grow…

The arrogance of those who think they govern this country, the intoxication of power, the show of force… A show of force is a sign of weakness! It is the sign of the end. It is the sign of nearing the final chapter. This is the weakest point of this government. It is over. It is done. The moment a government begins arresting its opponents is the moment it is at its weakest. When it suppresses, intimidates, and imprisons them—when it throws them into dungeons—that is when it has turned the final page. Would a legitimate government stoop to such cruelty? Would a legitimate authority see such oppression as a solution? It wouldn’t. It couldn’t!”

“Charisma collapses the moment one uses their authority to crush innocent people. That’s when all charisma disappears. Why would a country insist on going down the wrong path? Can a country persist in error? Only if it has no other path left. But it must not. If it does, that is arrogance! That is when arrogance is at its peak. The name of this persistence in wrongdoing is ‘path dependency.’ I say to those doing all this: stop the lawlessness. Stop implementing enemy law. Stop bringing this country to the edge of a cliff. Establish a just environment where my friends and I are tried without detention.”

“Almost all our surroundings—our east, our south, our north—are engulfed in flames. A deep geopolitical rupture is underway. Türkiye is struggling with the political and economic risks caused by this fragmentation, on top of its already heavy burdens. We are living through the darkest days of poverty, destitution, and indebtedness. Our money is worthless. And there are those who are screaming—but so quietly that no one hears them. We are desperate to take a photo with someone. Is this salvation? No, it is not. Salvation is in the people. The people are not concerned with photo ops.

The solution is the people. Salvation comes with the people.

Therefore, under today’s heavy economic conditions—let me put it in the terms of those currently governing this country—there is no alternative but to ‘strengthen the internal front.’ And the only way to do that is for this country to return to the path of justice. A country governed by justice, a fair environment… That is the way forward. If we cannot change this grave picture, we will lose our future. The greatest threat to a nation is injustice.”

Following the coup of March 19, staged under the guise of judiciary and orchestrated by the ruling power, Ekrem İmamoğlu—CHP’s presidential candidate and the elected Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality—stood trial for the second time on charges of allegedly threatening Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek. CHP Chairperson Özgür Özel, party leaders, İmamoğlu’s wife Dr. Dilek Kaya İmamoğlu, and his sons Selim and Semih İmamoğlu attended the hearing, along with hundreds of citizens. As İmamoğlu entered the courtroom between gendarmes, he was welcomed with applause and chants of “Türkiye is proud of you,” “Everything will be alright,” “No salvation alone, either all of us or none of us,” “President İmamoğlu,” and “Rights, law, justice.” Outside the No. 2 courtroom of the Silivri Open Penal Campus, many citizens who could not enter the courtroom continued to express their support. The hearing began at 10:10 am, during which İmamoğlu delivered yet another historic defense, as he did in the first session.

HE COMMEMORATED FERDİ ZEYREK: “I COULD NOT BE BY HIS SIDE, BUT I PRAYED”

At the start of his statement, İmamoğlu commemorated the late Mayor of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality, Ferdi Zeyrek. His full statement continued as follows:

“Today, we are again in Silivri, in court, at the second session of this trial—this case which began here. Being here, being tried in Silivri, is not something I accept or consider right. I want to begin by making a few remarks. Just ten days ago, we were reminded of the transient nature of this world in a very profound way. It seems that, from another perspective, those living in this world—if they do not view it as temporary—may end up witnessing many terrible things. As someone who left this world having spread beauty and dignity, we lost one of the most gracious individuals: our brother Ferdi Zeyrek. I pray for him. May he rest in peace. I could not be by his side, but I prayed for him. May his soul rest in heaven.”

“THE FAREWELL OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS TO A LEADER IS A LESSON FOR ALL OF TÜRKİYE”

“But he left behind a powerful lesson. Hundreds of thousands mourned him and attended his funeral. The fact that so many people bid farewell to a leader in mourning is a lesson for Türkiye and the world we live in today. That our President, who passed into eternity with such grace, built this emotional connection with the people in only 14 months speaks volumes. Behind this lies our nation’s deep longing for a just, cheerful, embracing leader who walks among the people, who makes no distinctions, who does not categorize, who does not say ‘You are one of us, you are not,’ or ‘Those who are not with me shall perish.’ It is the reflection of this yearning being briefly fulfilled in Manisa that led people to pour into the streets, squares, and boulevards to bid farewell to him. This is an expression of the people’s desire to reflect and understand what they feel and demand. This outpouring of emotion is a clear testament to what it means to be inclusive and

embrace people simply for being human. May our brother rest in peace. May God grant everyone such a noble departure.”

“FOR THE JUDICIARY TO BE OCCUPIED LIKE THIS IS UNBECOMING OF THIS COUNTRY”

“Right beside us, our country and region are going through critical times. We are in the midst of war. While we are here being tried, it must be stated clearly that there are far more important matters facing Türkiye right now. For the judiciary to be treated this way, to be occupied like this, is not befitting of this country. This includes the entire judiciary panel present here. My feelings are that the judiciary, justice, should be focused—especially in such difficult times—on raising the sense of justice in this nation. I believe the judiciary has far more pressing duties.”

“WE ARE SADDENED THAT WE CANNOT GO BEYOND CONDEMNING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GAZA”

“Unfortunately, Israel’s years-long assaults on Palestine—particularly the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza—are something the world has merely watched. We are living in a time when the world’s political understanding is limited to condemnation and remote criticism. Israel has inflicted, and continues to inflict, one of the most horrific tragedies and massacres in history upon innocent people in Gaza. Today’s brazen Iranian attack is also an event we all condemn. However, as a country, we are saddened by our inability to take a position beyond condemnation. It is a fact that the Republic of Türkiye, with its ancient state tradition, should play a much more active role in such times.”

“WHEN INSTITUTIONS ARE DAMAGED, THE NATURAL OUTCOME IS WAR”

“Throughout history, some wars have not been fought over land, but rather as clashes of mentalities, regimes, and systems of governance.

Contrary to the words of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who said over a century ago that war is a crime unless it is absolutely necessary, such conflicts are being waged in our nearby geography today, with people being slaughtered.

When democratic oversight disappears in a country, when the desire to cling to power replaces the duty to represent the people, when rulers are consumed by ambition and greed, and when the state system—especially its institutions—are eroded, the natural result is war, humanitarian tragedy, and acts of massacre.

Therefore, in this land—our heavenly homeland and cradle of civilization—there is an urgent necessity to build a country that represents democracy and justice in the strongest sense, for the sake of our nation and its future.”

CRITICISM OVER “SİLİVRİ” INSTEAD OF “ÇAĞLAYAN”: “I CANNOT ACCEPT NOR INTERNALIZE THIS AS A PROPER PLACE FOR TURKISH JUSTICE”

“This mission belongs to this country not only today, but throughout every period of its history. When leaders fulfill this mission in a way that befits its dignity, this country and this nation grow stronger in their sense of being a great state and a great people.

We, too, are among those who bear this responsibility to build a powerful future for our country and our nation—a future grounded in justice and democracy.

We need, and must have, a system with strong institutions, transparent government, and accountability from politicians.

Today, we are in Silivri.

We are in a courtroom inside the Marmara Closed Penal Institution.

I am standing trial in the second hearing of a case brought against me.

Yet we should have been in Çağlayan—specifically in the courtroom of the high criminal court to which you are affiliated.

But we are not there.

I repeat: for the sake of the esteemed Turkish judiciary, I cannot accept this location or this form of trial, and I cannot reconcile it in my conscience.”

“I COME HERE FROM THE CELL WHERE I AM BEING HELD IN SİLİVRİ”

“Of course, today we are in a courtroom shaped by the opinion submitted by the prosecutor. But there is a more important issue.

It goes beyond this case: Where did I come from to arrive here?

How did I get here and under what conditions am I being judged—or am I in some other position entirely?

I came here from a cell—after being unlawfully and unjustly imprisoned for nearly 90 days, in an unprecedented way.

I am being held in the Marmara Penal Institution here in Silivri.

Because of an operation rooted in personal ambition and greed for power, one that has cost Türkiye dearly—financially, morally, and in terms of international reputation—I have been taken captive and remain imprisoned here.”

“WHY ARE MY COLLEAGUES AND I IN SİLİVRİ? WHY ARE WE IMPRISONED?”

“Now, I ask this unanswered question here:

Why are my colleagues and I in Silivri? Why are we imprisoned?

Why are we in a cell?

This has a heavy emotional cost, a heavy moral cost, and a heavy economic cost—not just because someone claims to be an ‘economist,’ but because actual economists have calculated the cost of this operation to be nearly 150 billion dollars.

While our homeland and its 86 million people are drowning in crises and hardships, why is this price being paid?

What is the goal here?

Why am I in Silivri?

Why am I imprisoned?

Why am I in a cell?

I have already answered this question, and I will continue to shout this truth to my nation.

Let the ears of everyone involved in this injustice ring with these words—I will not stop speaking out.”

“I AM HERE, IMPRISONED, BECAUSE I WON THE ELECTION THREE TIMES AGAINST THIS MINDSET”

“Yes, I am here. I am here, imprisoned, because I won the election three times against the mindset that says, ‘Whoever wins Istanbul, wins Türkiye.’ That is why I am behind bars. Because I serve all 16 million residents of Istanbul equally—without asking anyone about their political opinion, ethnic background, beliefs, or lifestyle. Because I believe in the sanctity of public service and practice a people-centered approach to governance—supporting the poor, the youth, children, women, babies, our kids in daycare, and the students to whom we provide scholarships. Because I have stood with people through their problems and produced solutions. Because we gained the trust and affection of the people.

Despite all the obstacles and despite the fact that the public clearly suffers as a result, I am here because I carried out an activist, pragmatic, service-oriented municipal administration. I made a revolution in investments in Istanbul in just six years—in subways, infrastructure, urban transformation, and environmental projects—despite constant obstruction from those who wanted nothing to be done.”

“I AM HERE BECAUSE I AM A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE”

“I am here because I am the guardian of Istanbul. Because I protected Istanbul. Because I acted as a guardian for this city to rescue it from a period that even those in power called ‘a time of betrayal.’ I am here because I opposed the canal, the profiteering, and the plunder. I am here because I was chosen as a presidential candidate in the first-ever open primary in Turkish and global political history, with the support of 15.5 million voters. I am here because I am a presidential candidate. This is crystal clear.

From here, I ask our nation once again: Are we really being tried? No. We are not being tried. There is no such thing as a trial taking place here. For 90 days—some of us for as long as 250 days—we have been imprisoned since early October. We are subjected to judicial harassment and psychological torture. Women and men alike have been exiled hundreds of kilometers from their homes. We are victims of cruelty and tyranny. Unfortunately, we are not being judged—we are being punished directly.”

“WE ARE NOT BEING JUDGED — WE ARE BEING DIRECTLY PUNISHED”

“We are being held captive through conspiracies, slanders, perception operations, lies from secret witnesses, and the accusations of individuals with criminal pasts. This is not a trial; it is direct punishment. We are not being tried—let me shout this to my people: we are being directly punished. And not only are we being punished, but the will of our people is being punished as well. Unprecedented things are happening in the history of Türkiye and in its judicial system. At dawn—or rather, in the dead of night, at sahur time—hundreds of police officers raid homes.

Following a single order, hundreds of homes are raided.

And yet, when summoned, the honorable people of this country—its leaders and politicians— would come and testify, would come and answer for themselves. But instead, homes are raided, perception operations are launched, and people are detained for five days—left hungry, thirsty, in filth, among germs, surrounded by the stench of drugs. They are held in such conditions for five days. And this same scenario has been repeated many times. We are not being tried—we are being directly punished.

Our fellow detainees are being threatened by members of the judiciary. They are being threatened over their families, their jobs, their very lives. They are told: ‘If you say this, you’ll be released. If you don’t, this or that will happen.’ This is very clear—it has been documented by lawyers.

Families are being threatened. Is it acceptable to threaten someone’s family? Their children? People are being threatened with the loss of 50, 70, 80 years of their life’s work. Is this something that should happen to anyone? Is this justice? We are not being tried here—we are being punished.”

ON TORTURE OF WOMEN: “WHAT KIND OF CRUELTY IS THIS?”

“You take a woman, handcuffed, and transport her 600 kilometers in this sweltering heat—and then you throw her in a cell. She sleeps on the floor for two days. What kind of cruelty is this? What era are we living in? How can the esteemed Turkish judiciary allow this? How can one stand by and watch? Is this even possible?

Justice is the foundation of what is possible. It is the guarantee of life. It is life’s assurance. Your Honor, esteemed court, you are the guarantee of our lives. You are the guarantee of our children’s future, of all our futures. How could this be done to a woman?

There are bureaucrats who were transferred a thousand kilometers away from here to a prison. Dozens of them. What kind of cruelty is this? What is the goal? If you simply summoned them to court, they would come willingly and testify. Some have been detained two or three times. Taken in, held for five days, then released. Then taken again, held again, imprisoned. Transferred from one place to another, back and forth.

Who are you going to explain this to? Who can we explain this to?”

HE STOOD UP FOR LAWYERS AND DEFENDED THE YOUTH

“Lawyers are being stripped of their right to defense. For the first time, restricted zones are being created or defined inside courthouses, marked with signs saying ‘No Entry’. Lawyers are being treated like criminals—why? Because they defended someone. Your Honor, esteemed panel, you are all people who have come through the same training. There is the position of the judge, the prosecutor, and the defense lawyer. You know a thousand times better than I do how these professions must be protected and how they should be practiced with dignity and respect. You know this far better than I do.

Can this really be happening? Can a person’s lawyer be detained and interrogated just for doing their job, just for providing a defense? Young people, for using their right to protest… Every day, I looked into the eyes of our lawyers—brilliant young people, teary-eyed youths, 19, 20, 21 years old—held in prison for months. Why? Because of someone’s ambition, someone’s greed. And what happened? Nothing. They were released. Was it worth losing 90 or 80 days of their life?

Which of you would want your child to go through that? Who among you would say ‘yes’ to a child, a young person, being subjected to this? What kind of conscience is this?

Yes, I am shouting it: I am not being tried. My colleagues are not being tried. We are being directly punished. Very clearly so.”

“MY COLLEAGUE WHO WAS BEATEN BY MAFIA THUGS IS IN PRISON — WHILE THEY WALK FREE”

“Unfortunately, mayors who represent millions of citizens, my comrades, political allies, our valued bureaucrats… While they were demolishing illegal constructions, my brave security officers stood in support. At sites where hundreds of police officers were gathered by local authorities to prevent the demolitions—can police really be ordered to stop a lawful demolition? While fighting back, my colleague, whose eye and face were injured by mafia-like thugs, is now in prison—while those thugs are walking free.

My honorable, dignified, and principled bureaucrats who tried to tear down shanty structures spreading like a virus around a mosque on the Bosphorus—they are in prison. But the people who built that virus are outside. Who is justice supposed to protect? Who should justice stand with?

Justice is the foundation of the state. And who owns that foundation, if not the people? Justice should protect the people—not a handful of opportunists.

My friends, my bureaucrats are being imprisoned unfairly and unlawfully. While our nation suffers from hunger and poverty, this cruelty and oppression are being carried out for the sake of ambition and political gain. We are facing an operation driven by sycophancy and a chain of complicity. We are not being tried—this is direct punishment. This is not a trial.”

REACTION TO “CONGRATULATIONS IN GAZİOSMANPAŞA”: “WE ARE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE AMBITION FOR POWER HAS PEAKED”

“What ideal can I have on behalf of my country in this process? What dream can I pursue for my nation? For my country and my people, I can have the ideal of living in a state governed by the rule of law. I can dream of a just state. How can we build a fair country, a fair environment, where every child in this beautiful land can look to life and the future with free and independent thought, where they can produce, create, become outstanding athletes, become brilliant scientists? Where they can lead in the creative industries and technology?

And what are we dealing with instead? We are witnessing celebrations—shouts of joy—for someone who was appointed by council vote to replace a lawfully elected mayor who was forcefully removed from office. We are in an environment where ambition for power has reached its peak. And with the world around us in flames—is this justice? Is this labor? Is this our vision of a legal and just future?”

“EKREM IS IN PRISON!”

“This country’s poets once wrote: ‘I laugh at the fool who dares try to chain me’—they were speaking of me. And I’m sure everyone here feels the same. Yes—‘I laugh at the fool who dares try to chain me. I cannot be contained by valleys nor mountains.’ They say, ‘Ekrem is in prison!’ But this nation, one day, before the law, will hold accountable those who have imposed a real prison upon this country.

That’s why, yes—I want a state governed by the rule of law. A state where justice is not just written in texts, but upheld in practice. A new era where justice is established, built, and respected. Where judges see not names but evidence in case files; not thoughts, but actions; not affiliations, but law. Where defense is regarded as a fundamental pillar of justice. Where no citizen is afraid when seeking their rights. Where no one feels under threat for expressing their thoughts, but instead only when they are forced into silence. That is the country I dream of.”

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN, BY SAYING ‘LET THE SNAKE THAT DOESN’T BITE ME LIVE A THOUSAND YEARS’?”

“There is a saying that has been passed off as a proverb in this country: ‘Let the snake that doesn’t bite me live a thousand years!’ That is not a real proverb. It cannot be. It doesn’t suit any member of my nation. What does that even mean—‘let the snake that doesn’t bite me live a thousand years’? I’m not referring to an actual snake here. We all know what the ‘snake’ symbolizes in that sentence.

The real proverb is this: ‘Those who remain silent in the face of injustice are tongue-tied devils.’ That’s the correct one. That’s the real definition. Silence in the face of injustice makes one a mute devil—the very opposite of good. That’s why I dream of an environment where a person feels threatened not for expressing their thoughts, but for being forced into silence.

I want judges—those honorable people entrusted with upholding justice—to be free to deliberate and decide independently and impartially, without fear or concern about the decisions they make. That’s our hope. The rule of law I envision is one where justice—not political power or those who wield it—reigns supreme. The rule of law I dream of limits the power of governments, protects the rights of citizens, and makes justice not only the refuge of the powerful, but also the hope of the powerless.”

“NO ONE CAN GO HOME AND EXPLAIN INJUSTICE TO THEIR CHILD—THEIR HEADS WILL BOW IN SHAME”

“That’s why I say, I am not the one truly on trial today. What is truly being judged here are all opposing views that the government does not like, every democratic gain, and most importantly, the will of tens of millions of citizens. But it must be known: what keeps a country standing is not weapons or wealth. A nation becomes strong only when it is upheld by justice, rights, and the rule of law.

And in a country where there is no justice, there will be no investment, no peace, no future. There will be no prosperity, no abundance, no wealth. And most certainly—there will be no happiness.

No one—no one in this courtroom—can go home and explain injustice to their child. Whether it’s the judge, the lawyers, our citizens present here, or even our party leader—no one can explain an unjust environment to their child without lowering their head in shame.

That’s why I am not alone in this struggle. That’s why, in this struggle, I feel the voices of tens of millions behind me. I feel their trust. I feel their eyes watching over me. I feel it in my heart.”

“I DRAW MY COURAGE FROM THE UNION OF MY EMOTIONS AND MY MIND”

“I am an emotional person. I look at life by combining my emotions and my mind. That is where I draw my courage from—the union of those two. Neither my courage will bow even slightly, nor will there be a moment when my heart or mind will falter. I know this, because I am nourished by the strength of tens of millions of my people.

That’s why this struggle does not belong to me alone—it represents the struggle of all the children of this country, of our grandchildren, of everyone who wants to see these courtrooms as the ‘houses of justice’ in the future. That’s why I promise a brighter future and a just system for the children of everyone. That is where I stand. And I express clearly that I will be a soldier of that cause, a fighter for that cause, and I will always stand behind it.

To everyone here, and to the 86 million equal shareholders of this nation who are not here—I say this: there is no ‘peace at home, peace in the world’ without justice. Only through a journey of internal peace and harmony can we offer the world a model of guarantee and stability. In this geography, there is no other way. Let no one fool themselves.”

REACTION TO “AZIZ IHSAN AKTAŞ”: “THIS IS NOT RULE OF LAW—IT’S THE LAW OF THE POWERFUL, LAW OF CONVENIENCE”

“With this belief, with this hope, with this ideal—I resist, and I will persist with determination. Merely stating every day that ‘the judiciary is independent’ doesn’t make it so. Saying it on social media doesn’t make it true. True judicial independence requires willpower and correct implementation.

Otherwise, when someone who works with a hundred institutions is first called the leader of a criminal gang, but only five people—those affiliated with the Republican People’s Party—are targeted, while 95 others are spared because they’re aligned with your political side, that’s not rule of law. You release the so-called gang leader, while imprisoning five CHP municipalities based on fabricated statements. That is not the rule of law.

That is the law of the powerful. That is ‘law when it suits you.’ That cannot be the supremacy of law, and it cannot be justice. No one with a conscience or a sound mind can accept that. Just because 95 of them belong to your party, appointed by you, you ignore them—and go after the five CHP municipalities, imprisoning them based on baseless claims. Meanwhile, you release the supposed gang leader, and allow his projects to proceed with official permits issued by the same state! No one can accept this—no one.”

“IN THE RULE OF LAW I ENVISION, NO ONE WILL BE DEFAMED WITH IMPUNITY”

“The judicial system I dream of is one where everyone in this building—from judges to lawyers, from security officers to our Party Leader—can ensure their children and grandchildren will be treated equally under the law.

In the rule of law I desire, no one’s head will hang in shame. No child will be taken from their home in a dawn raid. No citizen will be vilified for their thoughts. No one will be shamelessly slandered. No one will be branded a terrorist for no reason.

As a public servant who truly loves every citizen of this country—and God is my witness, and so are the people—I can say with certainty that I have a heart that does not discriminate. I have never discriminated. And I never will.”

“I WOULD SACRIFICE MYSELF FOR THE PENCILS OF THOSE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN”

“I look at children with a special kind of love. I have always seen children as the embodiment of the future. That’s why, in the primaries, 15.5 million people voted for me—may God bless them. And hundreds of thousands of children sent me messages through their letters, drawings, and paintings. What seat of power can ever compare to that? What slanderous accusation can stand in front of that? It simply cannot. God is my witness, and people see it too.

These days shall pass. Those who do wrong and abuse justice will eventually collapse under the weight of their actions before the law. That is clear. I would sacrifice myself for the pencils, the souls, and the pure-hearted feelings of those hundreds of thousands of children. I would give myself for their sense of justice.

I believe that the innocent and pure sense of justice in every child’s heart represents a far more elevated spirit than what we are subjected to in this country today. Our ideal is to raise a generation whose creative spirit cannot be held back, who are productive, thoughtful, imaginative, respectful to the world, free of hatred, who love people for being human, and who can compete with the rest of the world.

We dream of a Türkiye where no one says, ‘If they are not with me, let them be cast aside,’ and where every child of this nation can be happy. That is the lens through which we view the future of all 86 million people’s children and grandchildren. Not a ‘vengeful generation,’ but one that is well- educated, productive, inventive, innovative, and able to lead on the world stage—that is the generation we aim to raise. This is our ideal. That is why I continue this struggle with unwavering determination. And this is not only the struggle of myself and my companions—it is a great struggle on behalf of 86 million citizens.”

“WHAT KIND OF TREACHERY IS THIS?”

“Honorable judge, esteemed members of the bench—what have we not endured during this struggle? And unfortunately, every one of these things contradicts the very principles that should be upheld and defended in this courtroom.

The annulment of the election—because that’s where the story begins. May 6, 2019. The election was annulled. Why would an election be annulled? Why was it annulled? Because someone came out and said, ‘Did you really think you could win Istanbul with a margin of just 13,000 votes?’ Is there anyone in this courtroom who doesn’t know this?

You can win an election by just one vote. They said, ‘Did you think you could win with 13,000 votes?’ Then they said, ‘They stole it.’ They claimed, ‘Individuals affiliated with terrorism were identified at the ballot boxes.’ What kind of treachery is this? They said, ‘Even if nothing happened, something definitely happened.’ With all that pressure and imposition, the election was annulled.

Was there a trial for anyone? No. Was anyone held accountable? No. Did anyone face consequences for those statements? No. But someone did seek accountability—do you know who? The people. They turned 13,000 votes into 806,000. And Türkiye didn’t stop there. In the next election, it delivered a margin of 1.1 million votes.

That’s why this nation’s memory will one day demand accountability for the injustice it faced. This nation is an ancient one!”

“THE ‘FOOL’ CASE HAS NO NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL LOGIC”

“The so-called ‘fool’ case… I haven’t been able to explain it to any national or international audience. It’s inexplicable! Because I returned the insult to the one who called me a ‘fool’, I am now facing a political ban and a prison sentence. The judge who didn’t issue such a ruling was reassigned, and another judge, who was appointed in his place, handed down that sentence. And now, that case has been waiting at the appellate court for two and a half years. Is there any example like this in the world? I’m genuinely asking. The ‘fool’ case… It simply has no place in legal logic—neither nationally nor internationally. Why has it been held in appeal for two and a half years?

There’s another case in Büyükçekmece. A case that was already dismissed by a joint ruling of five high court judges, who clearly stated: ‘There is no crime here.’ Yet it was resurrected and manipulated by a minister’s ambitions, based on a fabricated pattern and template. And it’s been ongoing for exactly 1,000 days. In this file—this case—there is no prosecutor, no legal opinion! A decision cannot be issued. Who are you going to explain this to? Isn’t the office of the prosecutor a part of the state? Who will understand this? Am I the one on trial? Is Ekrem İmamoğlu really on trial? No—I am not being tried. I am being directly punished.”

“A SINGLE EXPERT WITNESS ON 24 FILES! WHAT KIND OF COINCIDENCE IS THIS?”

“The so-called ‘expert witness’ case… There is a single expert witness assigned to 24 different case files relating to Ekrem İmamoğlu. Out of more than 1,800 registered experts, what are the odds of that happening? Add a decimal after the number one and then add 80 zeros behind it—I don’t even know what that number is called. And even that would not account for such odds.

What kind of coincidence is this?

One expert, always appearing in cases involving Ekrem İmamoğlu, and always issuing reports against him. And we have proof that these reports are fabricated, that they don’t reflect reality. We file complaints, we press charges—but no response. Meanwhile, there are ex officio investigations opened against me. My lawyers have done everything in their power, and still, there’s only silence. Is this justice? Ekrem İmamoğlu is not being tried—he is being punished directly.”

“NOW TO THE MOST ALARMING MATTER…”

“Let’s come to the most serious matter… to ‘the elephant in the room’, to ‘the biggest root of the problem’, to the tentacles of the octopus… the most alarming of all. My university diploma— clean, legitimate, earned with the sweat of my brow—is being cancelled after 31 years. What conscience could this possibly fit into? What kind of logic or reasoning can explain this?

How was it annulled? Through relentless pressure. Even though it was not within a prosecutor’s responsibility, they wrote to the university administration multiple times. In parentheses, they added: ‘There may be urgent need to use it. Take immediate action!’ And then, in parentheses again: ‘(For YSK or similar purposes!)’ Good heavens! What a coincidence that a university diploma is only required at the YSK when someone runs for the presidency. What kind of farce is this?

This is a blatant, deliberate act—a level of shamelessness I can barely describe. This is the ‘elephant in the room,’ the ‘giant carrot,’ the ‘tentacles of the octopus…’ What kind of justice is this? Is this a trial? Ekrem İmamoğlu is not being tried. Ekrem İmamoğlu is being punished.”

“YOU WILL NEVER ERASE ME FROM THE HEARTS OF THIS NATION”

“We are making history. Everything I’m going through—what we’re all witnessing—it’s all on display. But there’s much more going on behind the scenes. On the anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, I visited his mausoleum. I was told, ‘The other dignitaries are delayed.’ So I entered, said a prayer, then stepped outside. I walked toward the adjacent cemetery. I thought I’d say a prayer at the grave of Kadir Topbaş, who we had just recently laid to rest, and then return. I’m from the Black Sea region, from Trabzon. I simply walked over, paid my respects, and came back.

And because of that, I was subjected to an investigation—allegedly for disrespecting the shrine. These petty-minded individuals, who’ve lost all reason, are devastating this country. They are disgracing it, draining hope, spreading unhappiness, and shattering its future. The country is burning. The economy has collapsed. The people are desperate. Children are crying. Yet you are still obsessed with one question: ‘What more can we do to Ekrem İmamoğlu?’ My image is banned. My videos are banned. My social media is banned. But I declare it here and now: You will ne-ver erase me from the hearts of this nation! Because the heart of this nation is vast and full of love! And to those who pass these unjust rulings, I say: You will never remove me from their hearts. This love will only grow, and grow, and grow…”

“A DISPLAY OF POWER IS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS, OF THE END, OF COLLAPSE”

“Anyone who acts against this truth will be crushed, diminished, and forgotten. The arrogance of power—those who think they rule this country—their intoxication with power, their obsessive shows of strength… That is not strength. It is weakness. A display of power is a symptom of collapse. It’s the last chapter. It’s the final page. Arresting your political opponents is a government’s weakest moment. When a government imprisons, intimidates, and suppresses its opponents—it signals the end. A legitimate government would never stoop to such cruelty. One that still retains legitimacy would never see repression as a solution.

Charisma disappears the moment authority is used to crush innocent people. There is no charisma left after that. Why does a country insist on following the wrong path? If a country insists, it’s because it sees no other option. But it shouldn’t. If it does, that is pure arrogance. That’s when arrogance hits its peak. Persisting in the wrong path—that’s called path dependence.”

“TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE: STOP DRIVING THIS COUNTRY TO THE EDGE OF A CLIFF”

“The people of Türkiye—our 86 million citizens—are pointing to another path. The world is calling us toward a different future. Toward a different kind of growth, a different kind of strength—one built on democracy and justice. If we miss this opportunity, we will have failed our youth, our children, and destroyed our future. But I know the people will not allow that. We will all stand tall. This is our cause!

Our cause is to say: ‘The religion of the state is justice.’ Our cause is to say: ‘Let man live so the state may live.’ We have no other agenda. We must walk forward with these principles. And may God keep us away from following anyone who strays from them. This nation certainly won’t follow them. The people won’t even glance at the path they’ve drawn.

So I say this loudly and clearly: Stop. Stop the injustice. Stop applying the law like it belongs to your enemies. I call out to all those responsible: Stop dragging this country to the edge of the cliff. Ensure a fair legal process where my colleagues and I can be tried without detention. Summon us

—we will come. All our colleagues will give their statements. These people will never show disrespect. Of course, we expect to be treated with the same respect that every citizen deserves.”

“FOR A NATION, THE GREATEST THREAT IS INJUSTICE”

“To our east, our south, and even our north—almost all around us—is a ring of fire. We are experiencing a deep geopolitical rupture. Türkiye is struggling under the weight of serious questions and the political and economic risks these upheavals have brought. We are going through the harshest days of poverty, deprivation, and debt. Our currency has lost all value. And some people are shouting—but they’re shouting so quietly that no one can hear them. We’ve become obsessed with just getting a photo taken with someone. Is that salvation? It’s not.

Salvation lies with the people. The people don’t care about photo ops. The solution lies with the people. Only with the people can we find our way out.

So let me put it this way, borrowing the language of those who govern this country today: in these harsh economic circumstances, there is no other path but to ‘strengthen the home front.’ And that can only happen if this country aligns itself with justice. A just nation, a fair society—that is the path that leads us forward. Otherwise, if we cannot change this grim picture, we will lose our future. For a nation, the greatest threat is injustice.”

“THE PEOPLE ARE GREATER THAN ANYTHING”

“I’ve said this many times before: The people are greater. They are the true owners of this blessed land, this soil, this flag, and every public office in this country. Sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the people. It is with this conviction that I continue my struggle—and I will keep fighting.

And let me speak frankly: I am not being tried here. I am not on trial for any of the issues raised throughout this process. I am, unfortunately, being directly punished. I am here in a punished state, as someone whose rights have been stripped away, trying to stand before the law with resolve—despite the injustice inflicted on my close colleagues, despite everything.

I am facing this with infinite determination and a superhuman struggle, despite all the restrictions. I am not being tried; I am being punished.”