Ekrem İmamoğlu writes a letter from Silivri Prison where he is being held

As the first quarter of the 21st century comes to an end, a major transformation is taking place all over the world. Societies and states across the globe are in a state of intense mobilization. Every country is busy developing strategies specific to its own nation and suitable for its own characteristics, and trying to secure a leading position for itself in this great transformation.

We, too, must look at the world, understand what is happening, and determine our priorities. From Europe to the Far East, from Latin America to the Arabian Peninsula, certain concepts are coming to the fore everywhere: development plans based on national industry, leaps in energy and informatics, artificial intelligence and software technologies, and high-tech-based sectoral transformations. All of these are the fundamental dynamics that will determine the positions and strengths of countries on the newly opening curtain of the 21st century. Countries that are aware of these transformations and the train that is pulling out of the station are completing their education and professional preparation strategies to prepare their human resources for the new era.

WHERE IS THE WORLD HEADING?

Humanity is about to make the greatest civilizational leap in its history. This impressive journey will further deepen inequalities. Very serious gaps are about to emerge in national incomes and quality of life. The distances that formed between nations in the second half of the 19th century, after the industrial revolution, will be a drop in the ocean compared to what we are about to experience. Humanity is about to be divided into two: master nations and slave nations.

With this perspective, which countries that meet the necessary conditions can find themselves in the front rows of the train? Undoubtedly, those who provide confidence to their citizens with their justice systems, those who prepare them for global competition with the wide space of freedom they open to young people, and those who raise their children and youth to the level of their peers worldwide through the quality of their education. Those who possess the criteria of social peace, tranquility, and individual freedom suitable for the goal of being a center of attraction for the most creative minds of the country and the world. Therefore, it is a necessity for Turkey to raise its standards regarding rights and freedoms, justice, education, and quality of life, and to become a center of attraction for new-generation production, finance, and technology centers.

WHERE IS TURKEY?

So, where are we in this period of time when the world is changing at a dizzying speed? It appears that we are right in the middle of the risk. We are completely outside the safe zone with our justice system, which the judiciary has rotted with unlawful decisions; our political environment, where there is no fair and free competition; our universities and education system, which do not raise people suitable for the needs of the time; our unstable economy, which cannot recover from crises and cannot achieve a fair income distribution; and our structural problems, which cannot adapt to new-generation production technologies and industrial developments. We are very far from the train that is pulling out of the station and the great civilizational leap that is approaching.

WHO WANTS THIS ORDER?

Here, we have started a great journey to not miss this transformation of the world and to make our country a stakeholder in this great leap. The Republican People's Party (CHP) decided to determine its presidential candidate with a method that will go down in world political history, signed a democracy revolution with the primary election it held, and our nation left its mark on this revolution with 15.5 million votes. Against this, the government and the person at the head of the government, along with a handful of his cronies, have emerged with their outdated methods, anti-democratic practices, and approaches that trample on the rule of law and view all individuals, institutions, organizations, and political parties that are rivals to them or do not share the same views as enemies.

As a result, in a period where an oligarchic structure focused within the government is in charge, managed by a handful of people; where all values of the judiciary are turned upside down; and where the media and communication are threatened and banned, I was arrested after being subjected to a grave injustice on the day I was elected presidential candidate with the votes of 15.5 million citizens. We are going through such days that in this age of hope, where the world is transforming at such a speed, young people are turning their anxiety, insecurity, and hopelessness into a rebellion. Young police officers, against their will, are applying violence with unlawful orders to young people in their struggle to seek their rights. Both our young police officers and our university students are turning into victims of shameful decisions made by a handful of people for the sake of staying in power for just a tiny bit longer. Hundreds of our young people are entering a blessed holiday in prisons, and their families are spending it in front of prisons. We are facing a cruel, heartless, pathetic mind and group that cannot even show its conscience and justice to our brilliant youth.

CONSCIENCES ARE SENSITIVE...

Nothing is getting better when these things happen. Everything is getting worse. It also finds a response in the conscience of the government parties, their members, administrators, and voters. We are going through days when no one with a conscience approves of or adopts all these things, and cannot hide their sadness.

Despair and anxiety are growing. Our people can no longer keep their feelings inside. Tens of millions who want to protect their country are crying out. They are raising their voices and gathering in squares. We all hear and feel the voice rising from the consciences of the silent masses.

THE REAL THREAT TO OUR COUNTRY...

The head of the government, who sees every path as permissible for his position and seat, and a handful of representatives of this oligarchic structure are threatening the future of the nation and the country. In a period when the world is transforming, borders are being redrawn, and regional risks are being experienced, the scene created by those who are caught up in the ambition of staying in power for just a tiny bit longer creates a threat and a vulnerability for our country. This government, which is the cause of this weakness, has become a survival problem for our country. They are dragging our nation, our state, our unity and solidarity, our integrity under our red flag, and our democracy into an abyss.

After the primary elections, where it demonstrated an example of a democracy revolution to say 'Stop' to this course of events, the CHP led the way for the people's voice to be heard in the squares against the March 19 coup attempt. This energy, which has accumulated in Istanbul and spread to the entire country in waves, will now be carried to a new phase with rallies to be held in cities. It has launched a signature campaign that will exceed 30 million with its member base approaching 2 million. Another historic step will be taken with this campaign with the demand for freedom and early elections.

The goal of this struggle, which is being carried out with historic steps, is to ensure that Turkey receives the share it deserves from the world's transformation. To say 'Stop' to this oppressive government that tramples on rights and freedoms in our country, that even takes away people's diplomas, property, belongings, fields, factories, and title deeds, and that steals the present, tomorrow, and future of children and young people, is to move our country to a fair election race as soon as possible.

UNIFYING UNDERSTANDING...

The government, which tries to defeat every wrist it cannot bend with cheating and conspiracies, is also threatening the CHP with a trustee through the campaign it has launched via its dirty media and by putting the stick of the judiciary into play. The CHP will neutralize this threat of the government with the April 6 Convention. This convention is gathering with the task of forming the foundation of a future where all democrats of the country are represented with the CHP's unifying, inclusive, Turkey Alliance understanding, and walking towards power with confident steps.

In the convention we started on May 29 by putting forward the principle of change, we became the first party on March 31 with the superior efforts of our Chairman Özgür Özel. I have no doubt that we will emerge as the government by winning in our integrated and coordinated working period with the presidential candidate and the Chairman together after this convention. The previous convention had given the party the task of winning the local elections. This convention will give the task of taking power and moving Turkey to the place it has earned and deserves in the world's great transformation. I have no doubt that our delegates will hold a mature and democratic convention and will give great morale and confidence to our nation.

On the other hand, I consider it a debt to remind all political parties, the world of thought, civil society, unions, and professional organizations of our common responsibility in this critical period of Turkey. It is also our duty to remind that sovereignty belongs to the nation, that no one can touch the national will, and that the nation is greater than one person, one government, and all powers.

The nation is great.