Ekrem İmamoğlu (International)

✊ Free @imamoglu_int, free all political prisoners in Turkey. We call for the release of Ekrem İmamoğlu and all other political prisoners. The citizens of Turkey have the right to choose their representatives in free elections. The repression of the opposition must stop.

1 year ago, Mayor @imamoglu_int, democratically elected Mayor of Istanbul was arrested and removed from office. His arrest is an attack on local democracy. What does his fight mean today ? @nuriaslan_tr shares the positive impacts on Istanbul and his hopes for the future.

One year after the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, Saraçhane rose again last night. Not in silence—but in defiance. Thousands filled the square, answering Erdoğan’s pressure with courage and dignity. Because when power tries to break democracy, people become its shield. You can detain voices, intimidate opponents, bend institutions. But you cannot break a nation’s will. Because you can imprison a leader—but not a people.

Today marks 1 year since @ekrem_imamoglu lost his freedom, since Istanbul lost its Mayor. The worldwide battle between the rule of law and the rule by force is also unfolding in 🇹🇷. The 🇪🇺 should not be silent before it, the @Europarl_EN won't be: Ekrem bey should not be in jail

8 barricades. 10 minutes. 0 testimony. Today in Silivri, justice was sidelined once again in an attempt to undermine our democratic traditions. With Türkiye ranking 159th out of 180 in the 2025 RSF Press Freedom Index, this blackout is as alarming as it is intentional. Journalists can monitor trials across the globe with international press cards, except for this one. By barring the press and imposing arbitrary restrictions, they are attempting to hide the truth from the world. Families traveled more than 80 km for a 10-minute mockery of justice without any testimony. Truth cannot be barricaded. We will build a Türkiye where the press is free, justice is transparent, and every voice belongs to the people.

They called it a trial for all to see. Yet when it was proposed in the parliament to broadcast it live on public television, the ruling coalition voted it down. If this case is built on truth and justice, why are they afraid of the cameras? The people have a right to witness what is being done in their name. Broadcast the trials live and let the truth come out.

They resort to arrests after failing to stop us at the polls. After completing his mission against Istanbul, a politician disguised as a prosecutor is rewarded with a ministerial position. From the beginning, this has been political. They are targeting not only me but the people's will with that political decision. Our resolve remains unwavering.

Receiving the Paweł Adamowicz Award from the European Committee of the Regions is a great honor. Acting Mayor Nuri Aslan accepted this recognition on my behalf. This award is an unmistakable reminder that those of us fighting for democracy and the rule of law are never really alone. I dedicate this award to the people of Istanbul and all of Türkiye who, in spite of all obstacles, continue to defend the voting ballot. Your fortitude is the basis of my optimism and the power of my determination. This global solidarity strengthens our conviction that justice must always have a place in public life as my first hearing on March 9 draws near. Our goal is to return to the path of a just and democratic state, not to cause division. Despair is not an option. We know that one day our words will triumph over fear and our cities will truly serve as the people's home, so our hope is unwavering.

In view of my forthcoming trial starting on the 9th of March, this Human Rights Watch (HRW) report underscores concerns about due process and fair trial standards amid a sustained phase of judicial actions against political figures and party officials. The @hrw report aims to ensure informed and accurate reporting on developments that carry significance both domestically and in Türkiye’s relations with the global community.

The unilateral and large-scale military operation launched by the United States and Israel against Iran has dragged our region into a new and dangerous spiral of conflict, even though the possibility of a diplomatic solution was not yet off the table. I condemn these military attacks and Iran's retaliatory missile strikes, which also harm other countries in the region. Countries' regimes cannot be changed by external intervention. Regimes change through the will of their people. The Iranian people are fighting against the Iranian state's oppression through peaceful means. Military interventions carried out under the pretext of regime change are incompatible with the fundamental principles of international law. Only the Iranian people can decide the future of Iran. The Middle East cannot endure wars any more. There is a need for sensible leadership that generates peace, justice and prosperity, and seeks its own future in the stability of the region. I call on all parties to immediately return to restraint, ceasefire and diplomacy. Türkiye, by virtue of its historical and geographical responsibility, should never be a party to this conflict. On the contrary, it should play an active role in establishing peace and stability. Our national interests are protected not by personal relations with the US, but by rational diplomacy pursued with the goal of regional stability.

Today, Istanbul witnessed a profound expression of democratic solidarity. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Eurocities President and Mayor of Ghent Mathias De Clercq, B40 Term President and Mayor of Zagreb Tomislav Tomašević, Governing Mayor of Oslo Eirik Lae Solberg, Mayor of Arezzo Alessandro Ghinelli, Deputy Mayor of Paris Jean-Luc Romero, Madrid’s Director General for International Relations José Francisco Herrera, and Eurocities Secretary General André Sobczak for their second joint solidarity visit. Although the Ministry of Justice declined their request to meet me in prison, my fellow mayors carried their message of justice directly to the Silivri Solidarity Center. Their presence is a powerful reminder that respect for the will of citizens transcends borders.  I am also honored by the decision of the Paris Municipal Council to grant me honorary citizenship. I thank the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo for this meaningful gesture, which stands as a principled expression of solidarity with elected local leadership.  This solidarity gives strength not only to me, but to the people of Istanbul. Our city has faced hardship before, yet it has always risen again through unity and shared civic wisdom. We will continue to work for Istanbul and to keep hope alive for democracy in Türkiye. Because when cities stand together, democracy stands firm.

Congratulations, Galatasaray! You gave us both excitement and pride as we watched you play well and win. 🇹🇷

I shared my views on current political developments through Reuters News Agency 👇 reuters.com/world/jailed-i…

Merci Pierre

From my prison cell in Silivri, I have written to the leaders of the European Union to underline the urgent need to modernize the Türkiye–EU Customs Union. The Customs Union remains the only rules-based and normative framework underpinning Türkiye–EU relations. Yet today, it risks becoming unsustainable if it is not updated in line with global economic transformation and geopolitical realities. In the wake of EU free trade agreements with Mercosur and India, the asymmetrical consequences for Türkiye have become increasingly visible. New EU industrial and trade policies are also creating structural imbalances that affect Turkish industry and economic stability. Our most important trading arrangement remains unreformed despite profound changes in the global economy. Modernizing it is not only an economic necessity but also a geopolitical one. I firmly believe that economic integration and democratic reform must advance together. The entry into force of a modernized Customs Union will naturally depend on concrete progress in democracy and the rule of law. Türkiye’s European future remains a strategic objective. Türkiye’s eventual EU membership would significantly enhance Europe’s ability to address increasingly complex geopolitical and economic challenges. Democratic renewal in Türkiye is not a distant aspiration. It is an urgent imperative.

From 0 to 127 daycare centers in 5 years. We are transforming Istanbul into a city of opportunity for every child. “Yuvamız İstanbul” Child Care Centers is our commitment to equality, empowering mothers in the workforce, and providing our children with the world-class education they deserve. Fully compliant with official regulations, strictly monitored by authorized inspectors, and deeply trusted by the people. We invest in our children and their future.

On my 312th day of unjust detention in Silivri, the 23rd Family Solidarity Network meeting serves as a powerful reminder that our struggle for democracy continues with full strength. The presence of our Party’s Chair Özgür Özel and my dear wife Dilek in front of these walls today carries our message far beyond this prison. This lawfare, which keeps elected representatives behind bars while ignoring the basic principles of law, is a direct assault on the will of the people. No amount of intimidation can silence our demand for a fair, transparent, and democratic Türkiye. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who continues to stand with us in this fight for justice. Your solidarity is our greatest strength. Justice will prevail.

B40 Network began with the simple belief that Balkan cities deserve a more prosperous future. What started in Istanbul in 2021 with 23 cities has grown into a powerful network of 76 members today. I extend my deepest thanks to Mayor of Sofia Vassil Terziev for his leadership throughout 2025 and wish Mayor of Zagreb Tomislav Tomasevic every success as he takes the helm of this invaluable network for 2026. B40 was founded to strengthen local democracy and foster peace through cooperation. As today’s Zagreb Declaration reaffirms, that mission is more urgent than ever. We believe that cities are not just administrative entities, but the most immediate democratic institutions where citizens exercise their free will. In a powerful show of solidarity, B40 Mayors also issued a Joint Letter of Support calling for an end to the indefinite pretrial detention of myself and Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj. We must protect the rule of law and the democratic mandate of elected local authorities at all costs. Although I could not join the 5th B40 Summit in person, I remain fully committed to our shared purpose. I look forward to the day when I can stand freely among my colleagues again as we build a region where democracy, justice, and inclusion prevail.