First statement from Özgür Özel after visiting İmamoğlu: 'Now we are facing a digital coup phase'

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel went to Silivri Prison to visit his party's presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Özel reiterated his call for the İBB trial to be broadcast on TRT.

I am making a statement after our visit to our Presidential Candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu in Silivri https://t.co/iGowfwXlRp

— Özgür Özel (@eczozgurozel) May 8, 2025

Özel stated regarding the access ban on İmamoğlu's X account, "Now we are facing a digital coup phase."

Here are Özel's statements:

"They are turning detention into a punishment. Specifically regarding the Ekrem Mayor and İBB file, while there are already confidentiality orders in place, the confidentiality of the investigation is being violated. Questions that were never asked are being served as if they were. Clear answers have been given to all of these, and no evidence has been found. Our claim here is this: let the trial be broadcast live by TRT and other channels.

We are facing the digital leg of the March 19 coup. Those conducting the investigation want to fight İmamoğlu by shutting down his X account.

While the government was doing these things, it was showing its power to all of us, to the whole world.

"BOTH İMAMOĞLU AND X ARE COMPLAINING"

The government tried to understand the public's reaction. Afterward, the government entered a phase of raising the stakes. They tried to create a perception by attempting to seize the bank accounts of İmamoğlu, whose diploma they canceled and whom they threw into prison.

We had applied to X to resist this and to lift these restrictions. We will make a similar application. Lawyer Gönenç Gürkaynak says that his client gave him instructions to appeal the decision.

Both Ekrem İmamoğlu and X are complaining about this.

X may not comply with this decision, but this time they will throttle the bandwidth. We are saying that X should not implement this ban.

WHICH ACCOUNT WILL İMAMOĞLU USE?

What will we do from now on? Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu is thanking Mansur Yavaş for his gesture with great pleasure. He is continuing with great solidarity for all citizens.

İmamoğlu has an international account. From now on, he will use that account as his main account. Let us follow that account and grow it.

The end of panic is realization. They will realize that what they are doing is persecution of Mr. Ekrem, persecution of the opposition. These are not good for Turkey.

"IT WILL GIVE COURAGE TO DICTATORS"

I want to note that it will give courage to all the dictators of the world.

While I find their legal lines correct, I want to state that they should resist this decision as a matter of principle."

News Source: 12punto