Ekrem İmamoğlu speaks from prison: Striking Kurdish remarks! 'I am trying to learn'

CHP's presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is currently detained in Silivri Prison, answered questions from journalist Fatih Altaylı, who is also being held in the same prison. 

Making significant assessments regarding the new reconciliation process initiated by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli—which the government has labeled a 'Terror-Free Turkey'—İmamoğlu stated that he views the commission's work positively. In a written statement released through his lawyer, İmamoğlu expressed the following: 

I am the mayor of the city with the largest Kurdish population in the world. For 6 years, we have been governing Istanbul together with my Kurdish brothers, sisters, and mothers. We have been with them in the markets, at ceremonies, on construction sites, in nurseries, and everywhere else.

There are concerns and anxieties stemming from history. There are wounds that I sometimes still feel bleeding. I see and experience these. We have also lived through and witnessed the unfortunate denial and disparagement of their beautiful language and the cultural treasure produced by that language, Kurdish.

The questions posed by Altaylı to İmamoğlu through his lawyers and İmamoğlu's responses are as follows:

"THE COMMISSION EFFORT IS NECESSARY"

What do you think about the commission established in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM)? Is the CHP's decision to join this commission correct? Do you believe in the sincerity of the AKP?

"The process that the government calls 'Terror-Free Turkey' is a process that deeply concerns the fate of the country and the nation; therefore, it is impossible for it to be successful without encompassing the entirety of Turkey, the nation, and politics. Most importantly, we have stated many times that this process cannot be realized without leading to democratization, true social peace, and permanent solutions. If there is an issue that so deeply affects the fate of the country and the nation, the address is the TBMM, the highest institution of the national will.

Without the representation of the people; without voicing their troubles, concerns, hopes, and dreams, we can neither achieve peace nor carry this peace into the future. For this reason, we were the first party to propose that the requirements of this process be fulfilled around a commission to be established in Parliament with a pluralistic and inclusive will, and that the nation be included in the process. At the same time, we stated that democratization is the primary goal. Our Chairman also announced at our İzmir rally on May 19, the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, that this process should turn into the goal of a 'terror-free and democratic Turkey' and that we should conduct work around a commission to be established in the TBMM.

The commission effort initiated by the government is important, valuable, and necessary.

"WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR SINCERITY FROM THE AKP, BUT SERIOUSNESS"

Our duty is to ensure that this commission carries out work that will gift our nation true democracy, justice, and social peace, and to carry the voice of the nation to the commission.

We believe that this process will find its true meaning as long as it responds to the need for democracy, justice, and a new social consensus.

We will conduct an effective policy to take important steps regarding democratization, justice, and strengthening our social unity, along with the work to be done for the completion of laying down arms around the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission.

As for the issue of the AKP's sincerity, "We have never expected sincerity or good intentions from the government. We have not withheld our words. We have not shied away from being a real opposition.

That is why you and I are conducting this interview in Silivri Prison while being held unlawfully, rather than face-to-face.

We are not looking for sincerity, but we are looking for seriousness.

I hope they will act with seriousness in such an important process.

This process is not limited to the AKP. All components are part of this process.

The true owner of the goal of a Terror-Free and Democratic Turkey is our nation itself.

We will fulfill our duty to our nation."

"EVERYONE SHOULD BE AT EASE"

The CHP joined the commission established in Parliament by putting forward certain conditions. While the government side criticizes this situation, there are those in the opposition who see joining the commission as wrong. What are your thoughts on this matter?

The process moving forward with the aim of silencing guns in Turkey and ending the environment of terror and conflict is important for our country and our nation. We want this process to lead to democracy, justice, and social peace, and we are working for this. Of course, as both Turkey's leading party and the main opposition, we are engaged in politics for the demands of our nation, and for this reason, we are expressing our principles regarding the process.

Our unity and indivisible integrity are essential. It is essential that 86 million people are equal shareholders as children of the Republic of Turkey under our crescent-and-star flag. Of course, we must work to replace the very great pains we have experienced with peace, tranquility, and a permanent unity by learning from our mistakes.

The existence of a Republic of Turkey where equal citizenship is formed on a democratic basis and the law is applied equally to everyone is essential. It is certain that these principles will carry us into the future with great momentum.

Yes, we have conditions. These conditions are democratization, the establishment of justice, and the construction of social peace.

It is essential that the demands of our citizens be guaranteed at the highest level.

We see our nation's concerns regarding this process. Everyone should be at ease. The CHP is the insurance of democracy, justice, peace, and ultimately the republic.

EMPHASIS ON TRUSTEES, THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT, AND THE ECHR

There are sensitivities in society regarding this process. What are your views on the process? How should this process proceed?

"The process moving forward with the aim of silencing guns in Turkey and ending the environment of terror and conflict is important for our country and our nation.

I am the mayor of the city with the largest Kurdish population in the world. For 6 years, we have been governing Istanbul together with my Kurdish brothers, sisters, and mothers. We have been with them in the markets, at ceremonies, on construction sites, in nurseries, and everywhere else.

There are concerns and anxieties stemming from history. There are wounds that I sometimes still feel bleeding. I see and experience these. We have also lived through and witnessed the unfortunate denial and disparagement of their beautiful language and the cultural treasure produced by that language, Kurdish.

We must now start a new era. This will bring us closer, unite us, and strengthen us.

One day, during a market visit in Istanbul, I listened with teary eyes to the words of a mother who expressed her feelings full of love with her beautiful, emotional eyes in Kurdish, without being able to understand them.

Why doesn't she know Turkish? Why couldn't our mother learn Turkish? Why wasn't this opportunity provided to our mother, I asked. But then I thought and questioned myself, saying, "Why didn't you think of learning even a little bit of Kurdish and saying a few sentences to this mother with whom you share the same homeland?"

I am trying to learn Kurdish, saying that I should know at least a little bit of the language of my neighbors and citizens with whom I share the same city.

We must look at each other with such open hearts. We established the Istanbul Alliance in Istanbul with these sincere and heartfelt feelings. We have a historical responsibility. Our main goal cannot be to save the day. No one's seat in this country belongs to them. A struggle for the ballot box has been going on in this country for 150-200 years. But especially for 102 years, with the Atatürk Republic, all positions belong to our nation. Neither peace nor tranquility will come by appointing trustees and rejecting the Constitutional Court (AYM) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

I truly believe that my country can build a magnificent future with all 86 million citizens, with all their ethnic origins, languages, and beliefs. At the foundation of this belief, I especially see Turkish and Kurdish youth and children.

Knowing their tolerance, their dreams, and how they desire to live in a just future, I say that we will succeed in this. Look, I don't say 'I', I say 'we'. As the children of this country, 86 million of us will succeed together."

News Source: 12punto