Politics in Turkey: Detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Imamoğlu sparks widespread international criticism
The detention of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has sparked widespread international criticism. Numerous foreign politicians, mayors, and organizations expressed their concerns, viewing the incident as a serious threat to democratic processes in Turkey. Here are some key statements:
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: She described İmamoğlu’s detention as “deeply concerning” and emphasized that Turkey had to protect democratic values and the rights of elected officials. She stressed that for Turkey to remain aligned with Europe, it needed to commit to democratic norms.
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas: Doukas saw İmamoğlu’s detention as an act of pressure on one of Erdoğan’s strongest political opponents. He referred to the incident as part of a broader pattern of persecution, arguing that the detention of an elected mayor severely undermined democracy.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner: Wegner, expressing solidarity with İmamoğlu, highlighted the importance of free elections and an independent judiciary as fundamental pillars of democracy. He reiterated Berlin’s long-standing partnership with Istanbul and showed his support for İmamoğlu.
Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony: Karacsony viewed İmamoğlu’s detention as a reflection of Erdoğan’s fears and emphasized that İmamoğlu’s 2019 victory was an inspiration. He urged İmamoğlu to stay strong, expressing belief in democracy.
France’s First President of the Court of Audit, Pierre Moscovici: Moscovici condemned İmamoğlu’s detention as a serious attack on democracy and accused Erdoğan’s regime of restricting freedoms.
German Foreign Ministry State Secretary Anna Lührmann and Spokesperson Sebastian Fischer: Both Lührmann and Fischer condemned İmamoğlu’s detention as a severe blow to democracy in Turkey, stressing the importance of protecting the rights of elected representatives.
Former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou: Papandreou expressed solidarity with İmamoğlu and all those unfairly persecuted, describing the detention of political figures on dubious charges as a direct attack on democracy.
President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Marc Cools: Cools stated that İmamoğlu’s detention appeared to be a form of political pressure ahead of the upcoming presidential elections, especially given İmamoğlu’s position as a major rival to Erdoğan. He argued that this act was against the will of the people of Istanbul.
Co-President of the European Green Party, Vula Tsetsi: Tsetsi condemned Erdoğan’s undermining of judicial independence and targeting of political opponents. She emphasized that such actions were unacceptable for any country aspiring to join the EU and called for İmamoğlu’s immediate release.
Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Europe Regional Office, Dinushika Dissanayake: Dissanayake described İmamoğlu’s detention as a sign of increasing pressure on peaceful opposition in Turkey, highlighting the worsening human rights situation in the country in recent years.
These statements underscore serious concerns regarding democracy and the rule of law in Turkey. International actors, particularly from Europe, are calling for Turkey to respect its fundamental democratic principles, expressing the view that İmamoğlu’s detention is being used as a political pressure tool.
Source: ekonomim.com
