Ekrem İmamoğlu calls on Murat Kurum: 'Let's help Gaza together'

İmamoğlu reacted to Murat Kurum's remarks that 'the oppressed in Gaza will rejoice on March 31.' Extending an invitation to Kurum, İmamoğlu said, "On Tuesday, March 5, that is 3 days from now, at 11:30 AM, I invite you to our facilities in Sultangazi, to the logistics site; come. There, together, we will send the aid of Istanbulites to Gaza. Come. I am waiting."

Stating, "I will say something that I have not observed in any of the previous elections, neither on March 31, 2019, nor on June 23," İmamoğlu summarized his remarks as follows:

"Now, in our squares, on the streets where we greet people from our bus, there is a complete alliance of the people, an alliance of the people's conscience, an alliance of hearts. There is an alliance of families here. Everyone is here. I grew up in such a family that every political view was represented in that family. There were people from every party. Regardless of their views, ethnic origin, or faith, it doesn't matter; I feel Istanbul so strongly by my side that I am the happiest person in the world."

The strength given to me by the beautiful people of this city and our nation is unique, and the energy they provide is unique. My fellow travelers are here. My fellow administrators, my deputies, and my party assembly members are here. I say this sincerely; I wish these 29 days would pass quickly so that we can mingle with our nation again and continue to multiply our services to every district, every neighborhood, every child, and every young person in this city."

"HE IS MAKING UP AN INVITATION HIMSELF"

"I say this from my heart, my dear mother; I am not like those who change what they say before 24 hours have passed, even while on the road, and who twist and deny their own words before the day is out. And I say this sincerely: This brother of yours, who works day and night to fulfill every promise made to you, speaks and, believe me, delivers. This brother of yours will not deceive you. This fellow citizen of yours will not deceive you. You already do not like those who are deceived, nor do you like those who deceive."

Look at what they are doing? One day, they say, 'We didn't invite him. He is making up an invitation himself.' The next day, they say, 'His name was on the seat. Why didn't he come?'"

In other words, their words change from day to day. Or they go on TRT, which operates with this nation's money and taxes but doesn't even mention our name, and say, 'He cannot go on air with me, he cannot debate projects with me,' and then a day passes, and when I say, 'I would be pleased to be in any arena where we discuss Istanbul,' they immediately take a step back... and say I am 'insincere.' You know what? There is a word that describes them, this friend and his team: As our nation knows; 'tornistan' (a sudden reversal/u-turn)."

"WE WILL NOT LET Kanal İstanbul BE BUILT"

"Shall I give you another example of their U-turn: The disaster project. With God's permission, we did not let it happen, and we will not let Kanal İstanbul be built, we will not. They will not be able to steal this nation's future. They will not be able to take this country's lands from this nation. We will not let it happen. Remember their television interviews regarding that disaster project, Kanal İstanbul, where they shouted: 'We-will-do-it.'  That's what they were saying, remember. Now, what are they saying?

He even scolds the journalists who ask him questions about it. He says, 'Why do you keep asking me this?' Regarding that scandalous negligence in Erzincan... I offer my condolences.

In memory of our 9 miners who still haven't been reached, I will not even touch upon that subject. But I honestly laugh bitterly at the states they fall into when elections approach. You know, they used a slogan themselves. What was it? 'Stand tall, don't bow.' By God, they aren't standing tall now; they are twisted, bending and squirming. They are in a strange state, very strange."

"THEY WENT TO SISI"

"I swear to God, I feel sorry for them falling into these states. And do you know why? Because I... no matter who they are, I don't treat any individual of this country... They adopt a hostile attitude, you know, a hostile attitude. I don't say that to any person in this country, I never have. I don't look at them that way, I never have. So, do you know how I see them? Even though they are trying to keep up with me every day.

I see them as my colleagues in the state, do you know that? But they are lazy colleagues. They don't work. That's why I laugh at them. But at the same time, I feel sorry for them. I feel sorry because their thoughts and consciences are not free. I feel sorry because they only act under the command, yoke, or approval of one person. Sometimes I even wonder if I am feeling sorry for them in vain."

Why? Please remember. What were they saying about Ekrem İmamoğlu in 2019? They were saying, 'Will you say Binali Yıldırım, or will you say Sisi?' By the way, I am the one they call Sisi. And the Sisi they refer to is the President of Egypt. They went to the feet of the Sisi they called 'bad' 15-20 days ago; is that right? God makes this happen on such a day; He makes it happen on Valentine's Day. He even says, 'I will host my dear friend in Ankara.' He says, 'I would very much like to.' When did he say that? On February 14, Valentine's Day. No one says, 'What is going on?' None of those who applauded him that day have come out and said, 'Hey brother, what is going on?' They don't ask, 'What is this U-turn?'

“MAY GOD REFORM YOU”

“Let me give you another example. What did they say back in 2019? I remember their words, God forbid. If I were to say such things, if I were to use such language, I swear I could not appear before this nation. Is this a face, or is it leather? I don't understand. What kind of face do they have? I don't understand. 'If Esenyurt falls...' Look, look at the words. Look at the weight of the words. What is it, according to them? 'Mecca would fall.' For God's sake.

May God reform you. What does Mecca have to do with Esenyurt, right? They are going to sow discord among the people; they are going to exploit the people's faith... Now let me tell you. While walking on the roads here, sometimes—believe me, I see it 1 in 100, thank God. I see it 1 in 5000, but I still say 1 in 1000—sometimes I see voters looking at me with a sour face, in a harsh way. Let me tell you.

I know in my heart; they are angry not because they know me, but because they don't know me. Otherwise, if they knew me, they would take me into their hearts and never let me go. I know that too. A moment ago, they were there, at the party building. They were up there. I was going to greet them, they went inside from here. But they are listening to me right now behind their window. Look, I swear they are listening to me. They think Ekrem İmamoğlu doesn't understand them. They look at me angrily. Why? Because they listen to these false statements, these lies, these liars.”

“EVERYTHING IS IN ITS PLACE, MY BROTHER”

“There are these 12-23 channels; they won't even take our ads, even with our own money. Even TRT, which broadcasts with your money and mine, won't take our ads. Do you know what those managers are doing? They are eating the rights of 86 million people. May it be poison to them. Look, those managers are violating people's rights. They think this nation will swallow these cheap tricks. It won't. That is why they make faith an issue; what is it? 'If Esenyurt falls, Mecca would fall.' What happened? We won Esenyurt too. Did Mecca or Esenyurt fall? They did not. Everything is in its place, my brother.

Now, they used this Mecca-Esenyurt issue as a tool. As if it had worked back then, this amateur candidate couldn't help himself and made a remark yesterday. What is it, for God's sake? Look at the words: 'On March 31, the oppressed in Gaza will rejoice.' He said, 'If I win the IMM,' meaning if he wins, 'I will provide aid to Gaza.' Wherever you grab it, it comes apart in your hands. Oh man of God, oh good man; what can I say to you? What more can I say? May God grant you to your family. Go, live with your family. But you don't know this city, and you don't know the people of this city at all.”

"THERE IS A NOVICE CANDIDATE WHO MAKES US SMILE"

"Do you know what I understand from this remark? He is actually unaware; he is criticizing the government here. In other words, he is saying the great Republic of Turkey could not help Gaza, but it will when he arrives. The novice candidate is so off-balance that, without realizing it—let's keep this between us—he is criticizing him. Let's keep it between us, he is telling the President, 'Help Gaza. Look, you didn't. If I come, I will.' He says, 'If I become IMM Mayor, I will provide aid.' We just started. Don't fight. You have posters side by side. Then they will take the scissors and start cutting them."

Look; you never know with Mr. Erdoğan. One day after the pictures, he might suddenly remove you and enter the election in Istanbul with only his own pictures. Would he do that? He would, I swear he would. I am already waiting for it. A week, or two weeks at most, he will be in the squares; mark my words. He won't be able to resist. He won't be able to resist again. I wish he would focus on the real problems of the country.

But you know the saying; 'They told him his neck was crooked, and he replied, what part of me is straight?' Their way of doing things is like this. I don't call them 'overheated' for nothing. I don't say 'they've lost their grip' for nothing. May God help them. But anyway. In these difficult times, when our retirees are not smiling, when the hardships of low-income earners are at their peak, when inflation is skyrocketing, thank God, there is a novice candidate in Istanbul who makes us smile. He made us smile a little."

"YOUR AID IS GOING TO GAZA"

"These aid issues are sensitive matters. They are not subjects for exploitation. This brother of yours has not advertised these things, and he won't. But since he brought up this topic, I will speak. We have not refrained from standing by the oppressed people in every war in our immediate vicinity, not on my own behalf, but on behalf of the people of Istanbul. As the administration of this country and this city, we have always stood by them, and we continue to do so."

Look at the Russia-Ukraine war. During this process, as our municipality, we sent aid on your behalf, especially to the city of Odessa and to Ukrainian people who migrated to different countries and cities, focusing particularly on their children and women. May it be well-deserved, my brother.

When Israel's inhumane attack on Gaza began, we sat down with our management team that very day and submitted our proposal to the IMM Assembly. We passed a resolution for Gaza aid. Delivering aid to the region is subject to certain conditions. In our country, only AFAD plans this process. We waited for this process together with AFAD. Eventually, the permit was granted. We finished our preparations. In 2 days, your aid, on behalf of our nation, is going to Gaza."

A CALL TO KURUM REGARDING "GAZA"

"I am extending a new invitation to the esteemed candidate here. He gets dizzy whenever the subject of an invitation comes up, but...

On Tuesday, March 5, that is 3 days from now, at 11:30 AM, I invite you to our facilities in Sultangazi, to the logistics field; come, let's send the aid of Istanbul residents to Gaza together there. Come. I am waiting. Don't hesitate, come. We are not like you. Our invitation is noble, and our hospitality is noble. Come. Come. Don't hesitate. Unlike you, we do not use rude words toward guests, nor do we allow others to do so.

Come to my side, hand in hand, let's send off the aid to Gaza together on behalf of the people of Istanbul. Our Ata (Atatürk) has a beautiful saying. It is a testament for every one of our children: Generations with free minds and free consciences...

Well, when neither the mind nor the conscience is free, a person becomes mechanized like this. They don't know what to say. Because they are accustomed to doing things by taking orders. I have hundreds of examples of this; I won't go into them. Hopefully, on March 31, what will we do together with our 16 million people? We will liberate even those who do not have free minds and free consciences; we will liberate them. You know how they wave their hands by tucking in one finger; after March 31, we will liberate those fingers of theirs, too. They will wave their hands freely. There has never been such a political process. That is why our responsibility is so great; we will not only win this election for 16 million people, but we will also liberate that handful of people who do not have free minds and consciences, my brother. Are you ready to liberate them?"

"MY 16 MILLION FELLOW CITIZENS ARE BEHIND ME LIKE A MOUNTAIN"

"They tell me, 'You are left alone in this election. Look, every party has put forward its candidate. Even independent candidates have emerged. There are 52 candidates. You are left alone, your job is difficult this time.' And I say; thank God a thousand times, I have not eaten the rights of the people, my brother. I have not consumed haram. I have not given the rights of those who deserve it to those who do not. I have not favored spouses, friends, or relatives. I swear by God, I have never discriminated against anyone based on whether they voted or not. I have strived at the highest level to provide equal and fair service.

I have not practiced discrimination. At the end of 5 years, whatever I have done, I have done this: I gave the nation's money to the nation. I continue to give it, my brother. That is why I am not alone. You have already said it. My 16 million fellow citizens are behind me like a mountain, like a mountain. Even if 152 rivals emerge instead of 52, on the evening of March 31, we will be together with Istanbul."

We will be with the people of Istanbul and reach an understanding. And we will reach such a good understanding that those who dream otherwise will be left in astonishment. On the evening of March 31, are we ready to support both me and Onur Soytürk for a happier, more beautiful, and much more successful Istanbul and Zeytinburnu?”

News Source: 12punto