İmamoğlu: No one will be able to touch women and children

The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) celebrated the 101st anniversary of the liberation of Istanbul, which was reclaimed on October 6, 1923, by the Turkish army under the command of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, with events held at Beşiktaş Square.

IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu also attended the event, which was joined by a large number of Istanbul residents.

İmamoğlu was accompanied by CHP TBMM Group Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın, CHP Party Assembly members Berker Esen and Cem Aydın, Ardahan Mayor Faruk Demir, Bakırköy Mayor Ayşegül Ovalıoğlu, Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, Beylikdüzü Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık, and CHP İstanbul Women's Branch President Hatice Selli Dursun.

Speaking about the liberation of Istanbul, İmamoğlu summarized his remarks as follows:

"The guarantee for the Republic of Turkey to be fully independent in every field is a very noble saying: 'Citizens with free minds, free consciences, and free wisdom.' Do you know who that is? It is you. Especially dear children, dear youth, ladies, gentlemen, Istanbulites, trust yourselves. Know your power. Make your decisions with your own free will, without being under any pressure. Look, generations with free minds and free consciences are creative people. They are the people who change their country and their nation.

You are people who do not blindly obey anyone, any idea, or any belief. Always act with your reason, always act with your conscience. Act with your sense of justice. Never give up on the Republic, democracy, secularism, and especially the rule of law. Never give up.

Great prices were paid so that our country could be independent and strong, and so that our nation could live free and happy. Today, too, there are those who want to make our nation pay prices from time to time.

Today, there are those who see themselves as above the nation. Because they do not like the will of the nation and want to ignore it, there are those who disregard rules and institutions. How beautifully the poet said it, didn't he? 'I wonder which madman will put chains on me.' Do not allow it. You will not allow it. You, the children of our nation, you will show the right path to those who behave this way. You will show it. How? You will show the right path with your reason, your conscience, your morality, and your patriotism.

'NO ONE WILL TOUCH WOMEN AND CHILDREN'

They will eventually understand that they cannot ignore the will of the nation just because they do not like the result. You will show the right path with your tolerance, your smiling faces, and your righteousness."

At the end of his speech, drawing attention to a banner from the Beşiktaş fan group Çarşı that expressed a reaction against femicide, İmamoğlu said, “Today is the 101st anniversary of the liberation of our Istanbul. Dear Istanbulites, happy liberation day. Always be free, Istanbul; always be happy, Istanbul. Istanbulites will be happy and peaceful. Yes, çArşı is rebelling, and they are right. No one will be able to touch women and children. No one will be able to disturb the peace of Istanbul residents. Are we ready to be the guardians of Istanbul together? Are we ready to be the guardians of democracy? Are we ready to stand united against violence against women? Guardians of Istanbul. I love you all very much. Happy liberation day. Thank you, long live.”

News Source: 12punto