Ekrem İmamoğlu refuses special treatment, takes a stand

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was detained in a dawn operation on the morning of March 19 as part of two separate investigations launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the IMM over allegations of "corruption" and "terrorism." A blanket crisis that occurred during the detention process drew attention.

According to a report in Sözcü, while police officers did not provide blankets to other individuals in the detention center, İmamoğlu reacted to the situation, saying, "If you are not giving them to my friends, do not give me a blanket either."

CHP'S ÖZER: "MAYOR EKREM SET A CONDITION"

Making a statement on the matter, CHP Istanbul Deputy and lawyer Turan Taşkın Özer stated that İmamoğlu did not want a special blanket brought for him and used the following expressions:

"The blanket issue is as follows: Lawyers wanted to bring a blanket to Mayor Ekrem. The Mayor first said this: 'If you are bringing one for me, you will bring one for everyone. If you are only bringing it for me, I do not want it.' We then sent approximately one hundred blankets inside through the lawyers. There was no problem regarding this issue; the police forces were helpful."

İMAMOĞLU IS IN A DETENTION CELL ALONE

Stating that there are approximately 90 people being held in custody at the Vatan Police Headquarters, Özer said, "They are being kept separately. Mayor Ekrem is alone, but in some detention cells, two or three people are staying together."

Furthermore, noting that there are beds in all of the detention cells where those in custody are staying, Özer responded to the question, "Does the Mayor have a message he wants to convey from inside to the outside?" by saying, "Not for now. His lawyer will go for a meeting; if he says anything after he comes out, he will report it."

News Source: 12punto