İmamoğlu appears in court in Silivri for the Akın Gürlek case and completes his defense: Here is İmamoğlu's defense!

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who emerged as a presidential candidate following the 2023 elections, is appearing before a judge today in two critical cases.

Currently in detention, İmamoğlu is being tried in two separate files: one concerning his statements regarding Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek, and the other involving charges of "bid-rigging."

FIRST HEARING IN SILIVRI

The first hearing is being held in the courtroom within the Silivri Prison complex. A case was opened against İmamoğlu due to his statements regarding Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek.

In the file, İmamoğlu faces up to 7 years in prison on charges of "threatening and targeting a public official involved in the fight against terrorism." Furthermore, the outcome of the case raises the possibility of İmamoğlu being banned from politics and barred from public office.

SECOND CASE ON THE SAME DAY

The second case being heard for İmamoğlu today is based on an investigation initiated by the Ministry of Interior in 2023. Following the investigation, a lawsuit was filed against İmamoğlu on charges of "bid-rigging."

This case is ongoing at the Büyükçekmece 10th Criminal Court of First Instance. The indictment demands that the IMM Mayor be sentenced to 3 to 7 years in prison and also be subject to a political ban.

İMAMOĞLU BEFORE THE JUDGE

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor and CHP presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu has appeared before the judge. İmamoğlu first appeared before the judge regarding the charge of targeting Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek.

It was learned that Ekrem İmamoğlu arrived at the hearing wearing a dark navy suit and a navy blue tie.

İMAMOĞLU'S FIRST WORDS

When asked by the judge if he had a criminal record, İmamoğlu replied, "Thank God, I have no criminal record."

İMAMOĞLU'S DEFENSE COMPLETED

IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's 40-minute interrogation has ended.

Reacting to the hearing being moved to Silivri, he said, "I am here because I have won the hearts of 86 million people and won 3 elections in Istanbul."

Here is Ekrem İmamoğlu's defense:

I am here because I am someone who has won elections 3 times in Istanbul, a city that someone calls 'My Love Istanbul,' says whoever wins Istanbul wins Turkey, and thinks they own it. I am giving my statement to you for this reason.

Instead of TRT, which is funded by taxpayers' money, making news with lies and slander to discredit me, it should broadcast this hearing.

Let go of the students you have arrested, whom I consider my own children; it is a shame, it is a sin.

Whoever suffers injustice will find me by their side. You cannot scare me.

My heart aches, it aches. Threatening, give me a break. I have never fought in my life. I have neither hit anyone nor been hit.

"WHOEVER LOOKS AT ME SEES THE TURKISH FLAG"

My heart aches, it aches. Threatening, give me a break. I have never fought in my life. I have neither hit anyone nor been hit.

Let the prosecution go and ask my friends in the village. I am always a peacemaker.

I don't even feel jealousy, although someone in Ankara seems to be jealous of me.

I will challenge anyone who tries to associate me with terrorism. Whoever looks at me sees the Turkish Flag, sees Atatürk, sees the Turkish Nation. Let no one confuse me with themselves.

I did not say İmamoğlu cannot be tried. I don't even know the number of the Chief Prosecutor's children, nor have I looked at his resume. I am someone who can be tried; I must be held accountable. But the president and ministers must also be held accountable. I have been accounting to inspectors at the municipality for 10 years.

ERGENEKON DETAIL

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın had stated regarding the case, "The hearing scheduled for April 11, 2025, at the Çağlayan Courthouse, based on Mayor Ekrem's words towards Akın Gürlek, has been moved to the Silivri Open Prison Campus No. 2 courtroom," adding, "I remember this courtroom from the Ergenekon trials. The beginning of the film is the same, and the end will be the same!" CHP leader Özgür Özel also said in his statement in Silivri on April 10, "It is significant that Mayor Ekrem's court case has been moved to the symbolic courtroom of the conspiracy trials."

"I HAVE NO DOUBTS ABOUT MYSELF"

I am here because I am a presidential candidate and I received 15.5 million votes in the primary.

I am here because I stand against channels, lies, plunder, and everything that is against the nation.

I am a mayor who has been instrumental in the implementation of daycare centers and the 'Mother Card.' I believe that kindness is contagious.

I am the mayor of an Istanbul where low-income people eat 3 meals for 40 liras.

I am a person who has rooted out partisanship from institutions and introduced an understanding based on merit.

This unlawful process will not last long. What the nation does not want will never happen. In the most difficult conditions, the Turkish Nation has walked behind 3-5 heroes. During the National Struggle period. I have no doubts about myself.

2 MORE CASES TO BE HEARD TODAY

On the other hand, a lawsuit was filed against İmamoğlu on charges of "bid-rigging" as a result of an investigation initiated by the Ministry of Interior in 2023.

This tender case, related to the period when İmamoğlu was the Mayor of Beylikdüzü, will also be heard today.

In the case ongoing at the Büyükçekmece 10th Criminal Court of First Instance, it is requested that İmamoğlu be sentenced to three to seven years in prison and be subject to a political ban.

İMAMOĞLU DELIVERS A HISTORIC DEFENSE

The entirety of İmamoğlu's defense in court:

I hope that a sound decision will be made on behalf of the supreme Turkish judiciary and our country. I wish for it to be auspicious for both our country and our nation. I question why I am here and I struggle to understand. I am worried about the processes being carried out, and I am as sad as I am worried.

While being here today, I had followed the Ergenekon nonsense 10-15 times over the years, and I had witnessed the struggle of the people. I knew how much difficulty the families went through, I witnessed it. I did not have a political identity then; I was a business person. I wanted to follow the process, to follow how justice was applied. Unfortunately, I can say that these courtrooms have not left good marks in the name of justice. I had expressed my expectation for the supreme Turkish judiciary to make correct decisions. Of course, you are sitting here in the name of the judiciary, but I am also here as the mayor of this country and the world's most ancient city. I am here as the mayor of our Istanbul, the apple of the eye of our heavenly homeland.

"WHO IS EKREM?"

So who is Ekrem? A person who has walked barefoot since childhood, worked in the fields, benefited from the Republic, grew up with a morality that knows the blessings of these lands very well, has not embarrassed his family, has not embarrassed Trabzon or Istanbul... So, to line up hundreds of police officers where we would go if called... What kind of tradition is this? Is it possible to continue this? What kind of person is made to experience this? No one should be made to experience this.

"TRT COULD HAVE BROADCAST THIS HEARING"

Therefore, who benefits from such attitudes taken with suspicion? Who makes these decisions? I am after this, and I will not give up on it. For example, TRT could have broadcast this hearing. My wife is a witness; we haven't watched television for 20 years. I am watching TRT now. Does it broadcast things that do not befit human dignity and honor? I was a child who grew up reading the National Anthem in front of TRT. Isn't it a pity?

"I AM HERE BECAUSE I WILL APPEAR AGAINST THEM AS A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN THE NEXT ELECTION"

Why am I here? Why am I making a defense in your presence? Because I am here as someone who has won three times in an environment where 16 million Istanbulites were treated as if they were one person's property, who has won a revolutionary election, and who has won despite all the obstacles at the ballot box, proving that the will of the nation is valid. I am here because I stand against the idea and will that "whoever wins Istanbul wins Turkey." Of course, at the same time, I am here because I have won the hearts of 86 million people and I will appear against them as a presidential candidate in the next election.

Because I am here as a person whose love has been conveyed by 15.5 million people – even children – in the history of not just Turkey, but the world, and who received votes in the primary. Being tried here, being tried at the Silivri campus, is of course sad, but for me, there is the comfort of speaking in the presence of my nation; I want this to be known.

"WHY WAS I PUT ON THE TARGET BOARD?"

Who am I? Why was I put on the target board? I am here because I have stood against plunder and rent-seeking from the moment I became Metropolitan Mayor. I am here because I opened daycare centers and dormitories. I am here because I found jobs for the unemployed, issued the 'Mother Card,' and stood by the people. I am here because I was instrumental in people eating for 40 TL. I am here because I presented an understanding that equalizes people, children, and babies, roots out partisanship, and mobilizes resources to offer people a beautiful future. I am here because I stand against the manifestation of the mind that says "whoever wins Istanbul wins Turkey."

"THE NATION'S WILL PREVAILS!"

Frankly, Turkey has experienced many things. We live in lands where what the nation does not want never happens. That is why in these lands, it is not what a handful of people want, but what the nation says that happens. In this sense, I would like to say this: This hearing should have been held under much better conditions. But I want to bring another perspective to this. Imagine, Ekrem is being detained. He is held in custody for five days and sent to Silivri.

"WHY IS TRT NOT BROADCASTING? WHY IS AA SILENT?"

Isn't it a pity for Anadolu Agency? Let TRT broadcast our cases. In this sense, I want TRT to broadcast our hearings and convey our struggle for justice. Do not do this to the youth. Whoever suffers injustice, I will be by their side. No one can stand against this. I take refuge in the Creator, I fear Him. No one else can stop me.

I am responsible for the future of everyone living in this country. 16 million people do not go and vote when there is no ballot box, brother. Whether you love me or not, I embrace you, I love you.

I ask:

I ask your conscience: Did the prosecutor who initiated the investigation listen to Ekrem İmamoğlu's speech by chance and open an investigation, or was it by instruction?

"DID THE PROSECUTOR LISTEN TO THIS SPEECH A SECOND TIME?"

Did the prosecutor listen to this speech a second time? Was the instruction to open an investigation given based on a screenshot sent via WhatsApp instead of a live broadcast? Has this been verified? The statements in that screenshot have nothing to do with what I said. Has this been verified?

"CAN SUCH A THING HAPPEN?"

Imagine a 17-year-old university student having their diploma seized 35 years later... Imagine their home, their title deed, their property being seized... How will this nation feel safe? Who benefits from this? Let someone explain this to me. Can such a thing happen?

"THIS IS A CHAIN OF FEAR, WE WILL BREAK IT"

Who benefits from forcibly bringing my friend from 40 years ago, people I did business with 15 years ago, to the courthouse to get a bad word about Ekrem? What is the benefit of putting them in jail if they don't say anything bad?

Who benefits from calling my neighbors in Beylikdüzü to testify — or not even to testify, but saying "come let's talk"?

Of course, I will fight against the judiciary for the rest of my life.

"300 YOUNG PEOPLE... IT IS A SHAME, A SIN"

Whose idea is it to show up at the door of my mother and father's summer house? Whose idea is it to open the door with a locksmith? What is being tried to be done? What kind of 'caught in the act' are you talking about? There is no such understanding, Mr. Judge.

300 young people... It is a shame, a sin... We all have children, offspring. They have mothers and fathers. It is a shame, it is a sin.

That is why I hope you will make a decision on behalf of our nation.

"THEY SAY HE THREATENED"

They say he threatened... "Chief Prosecutor, I am telling you, we will erase the mind that rules you from the mind of this nation to save even your children from these treatments. We will root it out so that no one shows up at your children's door."

"WHERE IS THE THREAT IN THIS?"

Where is the threat in this? I am saying "I will be the guarantee of your future." And I will be, you will see. I will be the guarantee of this nation. Without leaving any of the children of this country out, without looking at their lifestyle, I will be a guarantee for these lands.

"WHOM HAVE I THREATENED?"

I have never hit anyone in my life, and no one has hit me. I have never threatened anyone. Nothing like this has ever happened in my life.

If you want, ask my friends in the village; they will tell you how I reconcile people. I don't even carry jealousy. I am not jealous of anyone.

The one in Ankara is jealous, so what!

Threatening... When did he read it and accuse me of this? This is freedom of expression. Whom am I criticizing? Those who brought the system to this state. Should I sit and talk to a trash can?

Ekrem, terror... enough already!

"I WILL CHALLENGE THOSE WHO PUT ME IN THE SAME PLACE AS TERROR!"

I will challenge those who put me in the same place as terror! Whoever looks at me sees the Turkish state, sees Atatürk, sees this nation. Can the label "terrorist" be slapped on someone politically? There are martyrs and veterans in every home in this country! What kind of perspective is this? I vehemently reject this! I vehemently reject this! I vehemently reject this!

Those who put Ekrem İmamoğlu and terror side by side have written it with bad intentions. Putting terror and Ekrem side by side... Give me a break!

I don't even want to think that the statements were not even examined and were written with bad intentions, but I am saying that I will investigate with what intention they were written and that I will not let this go. Yes, I am criticizing.

I set out as someone determined to bring justice to these lands, and I say: Whoever has done this evil to me, I will protect their children too.

Another case to be heard today will be about the "money counting" footage allegedly recorded at the CHP Istanbul Provincial Headquarters.

As a result of the footage that emerged towards the March 31 local elections, 22 people, including İmamoğlu's teammates, are being tried on charges of "collecting donations against the law."

CASE ADJOURNED

The verdict hearing in the case regarding Akın Gürlek has been adjourned to June 16.

TAHSİN ERDEM IS ALSO GIVING A STATEMENT

Zonguldak Mayor Tahsin Erdem was called to testify on the grounds that he participated in protests against the detention of IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Erdem is currently giving his statement at the courthouse.