European mayors came to Istanbul to support Imamoglu

The European mayors attended the meeting held at the IMM building in Saraçhane yesterday and supported Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was sentenced to 2 years, 7 months and 15 days in prison and political disqualification in the lawsuit filed by allegedly insulting members of the Supreme Election. Board.

The mayors of the cities that are members of the European Union of Cities (Eurocities) met yesterday with İmamoğlu. The Municipality of Florence of Italy brought to Istanbul the meeting ‘Meeting with Mayors of Growing and Developing Cities’, which it planned to organize.

İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Florence and President of Eurocities Dario Nardella, the Mayor of Athens Kostas Bakoyannis, the Mayor of Hannover Belit Onay and the General Secretary of Eurocities Andre Sobczak attended the meeting.

İBB President İmamoğlu said: “They say that justice is the greatest and most valuable of virtues. It is. If we lose our sense of justice, we stop being human. A society that loses its sense of justice loses its chance to be civil. A government that has lost its sense of justice loses its raison d’être” and he thanked the mayors for their support.

THIS IS HOW THE GREEK PRESS SHARES

The Greek press also highlighted the meeting at the top of the agenda. The Greek newspaper Kathimerini shared a photo of Athens Mayor Bakoyannis embracing İmamoğlu. Bakoyannis said in a statement: “We stand with Ekrem and the Turkish people. “Justice will win,” he said.

Bakoyannis said: “We did not come to utter big words, but to express our support for Ekrem İmamoğlu practically and with one heart. Today, if the twice-elected metropolitan mayor of Istanbul is censored, that is, freedom of expression is trampled, what will happen to democracy in Turkey tomorrow? When is dawn for the citizens? he said.

HERE ARE MESSAGES FROM THE MAYORS

the mayoress of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, written; Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma, Linz Mayor Klaus Luger and Hamburg Mayor Dr. Peter Tschentscher also sent a video message to the meeting in Saraçhane.

Mayor of Florence Dario Nardella: Imamoglu is certainly an important source of inspiration for us as European and non-European mayors.

Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo: Dear Ekrem, you have my full solidarity and support in the face of this unacceptable situation and incredible punishment, which undermines the most fundamental principles of democracy and the rule of law, to which we are all deeply attached, in France. like in Turkey.

Belit Onay, Mayor of Hannover: Cities are starting points and new beginnings. They form a different framework of coexistence. Cities are places where democracy, social justice and problem solving skills are directly affected and are rightly demanded. For this reason, as cities we need networks to exchange ideas and work on the best solutions.

Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma: Imamoglu shows the courage to transform his city into a fairer and more sustainable place. He must be supported rather than hindered and judged for his mission. I fully support Mayor İmamoğlu and his important role in protecting our democratic values.

Linz Mayor Klaus Luger: Dear friend Ekrem, I just want to emphasize one thing to you: You are one of those people who has done a lot for democracy. I hope that his consultations go well and that democracy wins in Istanbul, Turkey, in the coming weeks and months. Thank you very much, all the best. I’m always with you.

Mayor of Hamburg Dr. Peter Tschentscher: Mr. İmamoğlu, you won the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality elections twice in 2019. I wish you the best in fulfilling your duties as mayor of this important traditional city and in continuing your work politics.

The Eurocities group, which brings together more than 200 cities in Europe, used the phrase “This is a political attack against a member of the opposition” in a statement it published after the court decision on İmamoğlu.