Call for freedom for political prisoners from Tunç Soyer

Former İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer, who is entering the new year in prison, shared both personal and social reflections in a message published on social media. While wishing for the new year to bring happy moments spent with loved ones, Soyer underscored that the value of those in one's life should be recognized while they are still present.

Sharing many of the experiences he has had during his six months in prison with his readers, Soyer described the impressions left by absence and the feeling of emptiness created by being away from his loved ones. In his message, he emphasized that the absence of things one possesses in life turns into a real void, and therefore, it is crucial to recognize the value of daily life and the presence of one's relatives.

Touching upon humanity's progress regarding values in his New Year's message, Soyer included the following remarks: “Although our quality of life has improved over the centuries, it cannot be said that we have advanced in terms of virtues and values. Especially when reading master writers like Seneca and Shakespeare, it can be said that our spiritual and intellectual life has remained stagnant and has hardly changed at all.”

Stating that he strives not to waste the time he is forced to spend in prison conditions, Soyer said, “For 6 months, I have been living an experience I have never had in my life. Therefore, I am trying not to waste a single minute and to learn new things.”

Conveying his best wishes for 2026, the former mayor wished peace and health to all his loved ones, especially his family and friends. In his message, he expressed his hope that new beginnings would bring hope both in individual life and at a social level.

The most prominent part of Soyer's message was his call for freedom. He expressed his wish for freedom for the political prisoners he believes are being held in prison with the words: “I hope the new year will be a year in which all prisoners of conscience or all political prisoners disguised as ‘common criminals’ regain their freedom. Let there be a future..!”

In the message he shared on social media, Soyer also called for attendance at his hearing to be held at the Şakran Prison Complex on Monday, January 5, at 10:00 AM, adding a note that he expects everyone who is sensitive to the case to be there.