Ekrem İmamoğlu reacts to the arrest of Yeni Party's Özalper: Your quarrel is with us

İmamoğlu made a statement on his social media account regarding the operations on Turkey's agenda and the arrest of Yeni Party Manisa Provincial Chair İlksen Özalper.

Ekrem İmamoğlu stated that the current process raises serious questions regarding law and justice, saying, "Look at Turkey's agenda; how can you describe the cruelty and lawlessness of the operations carried out by the palace and the judiciary? Words fall short these days."

"Detention should not turn into a pre-emptive punishment"

İmamoğlu argued that while they are not against anyone being tried, detention measures applied before the trial process is completed should not turn into a tool for punishment.

"We are not saying that no one should be tried, but it is heartless for detention to turn into a pre-emptive punishment before the trial is completed" said İmamoğlu, adding that he learned of Özalper's arrest with sadness.

İmamoğlu, who is currently held at the Marmara Prison in Silivri, stated that the ease with which detention and arrest decisions are made is incompatible with the understanding of a state of law, saying, "If you make detention and arrest decisions this easily, you cannot speak of rights or law there."

"Playing with human lives should not be this easy"

Emphasizing in his statement that arrest decisions do not only have legal consequences but also directly affect the families and close circles of those arrested, İmamoğlu said, "These people have families, they have lives; playing with human lives should not be this easy."

İmamoğlu also reacted to claims that the ongoing operations are not political, arguing that society is in a position to evaluate what is happening.

"Extending political scores to families is a sign of weakness"

In the harshest part of his statement, Ekrem İmamoğlu expressed his criticisms regarding the targeting of families. Stating that there must be boundaries and ethics in political struggle, İmamoğlu said that targeting spouses, children, siblings, and friends will not provide justice.

İmamoğlu, "Extending political scores to families is a sign of weakness. Justice is not served by targeting people's spouses, children, siblings, or friends" he said.

Stating that exerting pressure, intimidation, and seeking revenge through families cannot be described as justice, İmamoğlu, "Politics and struggle also have ethics and boundaries" he said.

"Your quarrel is with us, we are the ones facing you"

İmamoğlu concluded his statement with the message that the interlocutors of political struggle should be politicians, not families.

"Your quarrel is with us, we are the ones facing you" said İmamoğlu, and finally "Leave the families alone!" he called out.

Look at Turkey's agenda; how can you describe the cruelty and lawlessness of the operations carried out by the palace and the judiciary?

Words fall short these days. We are not saying that no one should be tried, but it is heartless for detention to turn into a pre-emptive punishment before the trial is completed...

— Presidential Candidacy Office (@CA_iletisim) August 8, 2026