Ekrem İmamoğlu shares the text of his defense regarding Akın Gürlek in Silivri: 'Let my nation read it'

A lawsuit has been filed against Ekrem İmamoğlu due to his remarks regarding Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek.

The first hearing of the case, opened on charges of "targeting individuals involved in the fight against threats and terrorism," was held today in Silivri. In the case in question, it is requested that İmamoğlu be sentenced to up to 7 years and 4 months in prison, be deprived of his right to vote and be elected, and be banned from public office. While the case was adjourned until June 16, Ekrem İmamoğlu made a post on his social media account in the evening and shared the text of the defense he delivered.

Under his post, where he wrote, "I am here today because, from the moment I became the Mayor of Istanbul, while managing the city, I have stood against canals, lies, plunder, and at the same time, against rent-seeking and everything that is against the nation. Let my nation read the defense I made in court today," İmamoğlu shared the text of the defense he presented at the Akın Gürlek hearing.

Here is the text that İmamoğlu shared:

Silivri Open Penal Institution Courtroom No. 2, April 11, 2025 - Ekrem İmamoğlu, Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek Case Defense

While I am here today, I am someone who, years ago, followed cases 10-15 times within this campus during the Ergenekon nonsense and fabricated conspiracy cases, and witnessed the endless struggles of people who were subjected to injustice and lawlessness. And at that time, during the processes involving these various conspiracy cases, I lived through and witnessed firsthand how these people and their families were in sorrow, how they were cast aside, and how they lost their hopes for life and even lost their lives.

Although it was not an administrative role at the time, my political sensitivity, along with my political duty, brought me here for days. And even though I was a business person, I was here with such sensitivity, looking into the eyes of the people here, with the desire to understand the process and to witness how conscience, reason, understanding, tolerance, and justice were applied in the management of the process. I can say that I learned many lessons. In that context, I must express with regret that these courtrooms have made us experience days that were not pleasant at all and did not leave a good mark on our history in the name of justice.

I expressed my expectation for the supreme Turkish judiciary to form correct decisions, good decisions, and good judgments on behalf of the supreme Turkish nation. Because we are a society that possesses the understanding and belief that "The religion of the state is justice." At the same time, we are people who strive to be representatives of this tradition for thousands of years, where the state and the state's wisdom proceed with the motto, "Keep your people alive so that the state may live." This effort and this wish form the basis of our presence and our existence here.

Certainly, you are sitting here on behalf of the judiciary. You are here with the responsibility of making decisions on behalf of the judiciary and the supreme Turkish judiciary of this country. But I am also here as the Mayor of this country and the world's most ancient city. I am the Mayor of Istanbul, the apple of the eye of our heavenly homeland Turkey, which has served as the capital to three empires and before which 16 million people bow with respect. In this sense, I am here, and I am truly here with sadness. Of course, we are here in an atmosphere where my presence in Silivri is based on other motives, without foundation or basis, fabricated, slanderous, and unfortunately, with justifications that sadden our nation, even devastate it, destroy its hopes, ruin its economy, and undermine whatever security exists, leaving people feeling hopeless.

Think about it; there is unfortunately a procedural connection between the reason for my presence in Silivri and the process that led to me being here. There is a process-related link. I must express with regret that the process, which began with my speech at a panel on January 20, and the underlying sentiment behind the accusations for which I am being tried today—and which you stated were attributed to me just moments ago—have shown me, through my arrival in Silivri today, just how accurate my concerns were.

In that context, I will express my response to the charges against me here very clearly and decisively. But first, I cannot help but question, 'Why am I here?' Why am I here, I wonder? Why am I testifying in your presence? Or why am I presenting my defense regarding the charges against me in some way?

Because I am here because I won three elections in the city of 16 million Istanbulites, in an environment where someone or a single person claims 'My beloved Istanbul' as if it were their own property, and I won an election that will go down in golden letters as a revolution for Turkish democracy regarding the transfer of a city that belongs to the nation back to its rightful owner, the nation. I am in Silivri as a result of the fact that I won three elections, that I stood against this mentality, that I demonstrated that the will of the nation is valid, that the ideal that sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation has been realized, that the public's will at the ballot box was fulfilled despite all obstacles, and because I am a person who, against that individual's 'My beloved Istanbul' or 'Whoever wins Istanbul wins Turkey' mentality, demonstrated such a strong will together with the nation.

And in this courtroom in Silivri, I am listing my responses to your case. Of course, I am also here because I have won the hearts of 86 million people and will appear before 86 million people as a presidential candidate in the next election, and I am testifying in your presence at this campus in Silivri.

This sentiment is not limited to just the word or phrase 'presidential candidate.' Because, not just in Turkey but in world history, I am here today because I earned my 'presidential candidate' identity in an environment where 15.5 million people voted in a primary—where perhaps everyone's spouse, friend, and relative voted, from the furthest east to the furthest west, from the furthest south to the furthest north of Turkey, in a festival of democracy where people conveyed their love and opinions to me with smiling faces, not frowning ones, with tolerance and good intentions, and even with the beautiful drawings of children who I could call babies.

In the environment created by the political atmosphere in Turkey, being tried here or being tried at the Silivri Campus, and testifying at the Silivri Campus in this case, is of course saddening. But I want you all to know that, frankly, I am at ease and relieved to be speaking in the presence of my nation.

Honorable judge, esteemed members;

Of course, along with this answer I gave to the question 'Why am I here?'... Well, when you look at who I am and why I am in such a targeted or focused position, it is actually very clear...

I am here today because, from the moment I became the Mayor of Istanbul, while managing the city, I stood against canals, lies, plunder, and at the same time, rent-seeking and every issue that is against the nation.

And I am here today because I have defended this without ever giving up. At the same time, babies, children, nurseries, dormitories, scholarships, youth, university youth, unemployed youth, finding jobs for young people, women, mothers, Mother Card. Just think; I am the Mayor who put a card in the pockets of millions of mothers and enabled them to travel around Istanbul for free with their children aged 0-4... What a great honor. And by saying 'Kindness is contagious,' I am the reason it spread to Turkey. Just think; I am a person who created an Istanbul where tens of millions of people eat three meals a day for 40 liras under difficult conditions today, and who is the reason for this kindness to spread throughout Turkey.

Is it just the City Restaurant or nurseries? No. At the same time, I am here because I have put forward an understanding that achieves historic records in subways, brings Istanbul's most beautiful green spaces to the people of Istanbul, equalizes its people, equalizes its children, equalizes its babies, tears out partisanship, tears that disgusting feeling out of institutions, carries merit into institutions along with its principles, and mobilizes whatever resources are available to offer people a beautiful future, along with savings.

Because the main mind and the mind that unfortunately dominates and forces the process is the manifestation and result of that 'Whoever wins Istanbul, wins Turkey' or 'Whoever loses Istanbul, loses Turkey' mentality. That is why I am in Silivri today, and by being in Silivri, in this hall within this campus and with its bad memories,

I am testifying in your presence at this hearing, in this hall where, unfortunately, the troubled memories and states of Turkey and the supreme Turkish judiciary have been experienced. But this will not last long. Frankly, Turkey has experienced many things. We live in a land where what the nation does not want never happens. Thank God. Even in the most difficult conditions, when three or five heroes emerged, the nation lined up behind them, and a struggle for independence was waged in these lands.

Therefore, in this country, in these lands, it is not what a handful of people want that happens, but what the nation says. The nation is great. And no one should have the slightest doubt about the greatness of this nation. I do not. I am amazed at the minds of those who do.

Just think; Ekrem İmamoğlu is being detained. Ekrem İmamoğlu is kept in custody for 5 days. Keeping Ekrem İmamoğlu in custody for 5 days is a big deal! His investigation is being conducted. A decision is made in court and he is sent to Silivri. Who is Ekrem İmamoğlu, anyway? Ekrem İmamoğlu is a person who has walked barefoot since childhood, wandered in fields, grass, meadows, mountains, and forests, has seen every environment, comes from a 40-household village, has benefited from the blessings of the Republic just like you, has held one of the most beautiful offices in Turkey, knows the blessings of these lands very well, knows the sanctity of serving the blessings of these lands, has grown up with a morality that knows very well that serving its people is also serving God, and has never missed from his prayers not to embarrass his family, not to embarrass the lands where he was born, Trabzon, the city where he lives, Istanbul, and this nation. In that respect, the mentality of keeping us in custody, and then with that oppression, with that trouble, like raiding a place where we would go if called with police, lining up hundreds of police at the door of his house...

What kind of tradition is this? What kind of mentality is this? Is the sustainability of the supreme Turkish judiciary possible with such a mentality? Can it be? What kind of person would want to experience this? To whom can this be inflicted? Even a person who has committed the worst crime is not subjected to this. Or, if there is a possibility that a crime has been committed, if it has not yet been clarified, it cannot be done anyway. In that respect, what benefit do these practices and attitudes, based on suspicion or the alleged crime, have for our country's present or future, for God's sake? Who makes these decisions? Who puts these decisions into practice? What will is forcing this? This is the issue I am pursuing and will continue to pursue, and I will never give up on it. The question of 'what happened under these conditions'... Could it have been improved? It could have been.

For example, TRT could have broadcast this hearing quite nicely. People say, 'May it be forbidden, may it be poison,' in their prayers regarding the taxes they pay to TRT... Ekrem İmamoğlu, for instance... is on trial. Thank God, I don't watch television by coincidence. My wife is here, she can testify. We haven't watched TV in our home for nearly 20 years. But now, I am looking at TRT in my room. Regarding Ekrem İmamoğlu's dignity, honor, his wife, his family...

For God's sake, does TRT, a state channel, produce news based on lies and slander that smears, pollutes, and attempts to discredit?

In my childhood, at the age of 6 or 7, an uncle of mine who came from abroad brought a TV home. I grew up watching the opening screen of TRT for hours before it started broadcasting. Or, I was a child who would stand in front of the TV and recite the National Anthem when TRT's broadcast was closing and the anthem was being played. Isn't it a pity?

Isn't it a pity for Anadolu Agency? A country where the nation's news agency, founded during the struggle for independence, is turned into a place where a handful of people serve to maintain their political will and political judgment...

Can this be endured? Let TRT come and at least convey a fraction of these speeches of ours, these cases of ours, to the supreme Turkish nation. Let the nation watch and form its own true opinion. It is a shame, it is a sin. There is no point in placing dynamite under the nation's feelings and spirituality. In this sense, I wish that TRT, even if it did not broadcast it today, would broadcast my speeches here in future hearings and potential legal struggles, and I entrust this to the supreme Turkish judiciary here. I would also like to underline that this would have great value and great benefits for the future of our Turkey.

Esteemed Judge and valued members;

Let me say this in your presence: You mentioned the accusation against me. Of course, I would like to express this. On January 20, we were at a panel with our esteemed Chairman in a hall in Kadıköy. And we were going to give speeches in that hall in Kadıköy. We had the desire to start the day very nicely. But again, as I just stated, before the sun had even risen in the morning, in a way contrary to the Constitution and the law, they went to the home of a child, our Youth Branch Chairman—a Youth Branch Chairman whom I have known since primary school, whose family I know, whom I know personally, like my own child... I look at every child with the eyes of a child. That is how I look at them. Every child of Istanbul is my child. That is why I opened dormitories for 6,000 university students at one-tenth the price of normal conditions. That is why I provide scholarships to 100,000 young people every year. That is why, because I see every child as my own, I brought nurseries to this city where 13,000 to 14,000 children are educated, half of them for free. It will reach 150. That is our goal.

That is why I look at children and young people as if they were my own.

That is why I condemn the cruelty inflicted upon the imprisoned university students, those people I view as my own children, and I find it wrong. It is wrong. Do not do this to the youth. Let those who remain be released as well.

It is truly a shame and a sin against our future. This should not be done to any young person. This practice cannot be applied to any young person based on freedom of expression or the freedom to express oneself. That is why I have always raised this cry, and I will continue to do so.

Whoever is subjected to injustice, I will stand by them. Whoever is subjected to lawlessness, I will stand by them. I will never give up on this. Nothing will stop me. No power can stop me. I only fear the Creator. I take refuge in the Creator. And I take refuge in my nation. What the nation says is what is essential for me.

In this context, with these feelings, if you call my young brother to give a statement today, he will come. For God's sake, who has ever been called to give a statement and not gone? You call them to give a statement, and they come. You pile police at their door, you take them as if they were being arrested, you bring them in, and then you make them wait to give a statement. What kind of cruelty is this? Is this done to the children of the nation? Well, did it hurt me when this was done? It did. Did it burn my heart? It burned, just as it burns today. Yes, I expressed my feelings at that panel as well. So what did I say? 'Look, Chief Prosecutor, I am telling you: We will even save your children—we have no use for you, your mind has rotted—we will root out the mindset that governs you from the mind of this nation so that no one shows up at your children's door. No one should take your children from their home at the crack of dawn. We will root out the paths and methods that pass through your nature, your mind, and your intellect from every environment in this country so that we can ensure the peace of your home, your family, and your children's future, even yours. That is our concern.' Where is the threat in this? Where is the insult in this?

If I were not someone who feels responsible for the future of everyone living in this country, everyone's children, 16 million people would not have elected me Mayor of Istanbul. 16 million people would not have rushed to vote in the primary election when there was no ballot box in sight, saying, 'Let Ekrem İmamoğlu be my presidential candidate.' Because I am a person who possesses that responsibility.

Whether you want it or not, whether you like it or not, I love your children, my friend. Whether you are a chief prosecutor, a judge, or a president... Whoever you are... I love everyone's children and grandchildren.

I want the future of this country to be a good one. I will not give up on this. No one's furrowed brows, no one's harsh words, and no one's decisions will affect me, positively or negatively.

I don't care, I don't care. When we set out 6 to 6.5 years ago, we did so after seeking reconciliation. We are aware of the difficulties of every task. The Turkish nation knows what seeking reconciliation means. In this context, we set out by seeking reconciliation.

So, I made this speech. What happened after that, for God's sake? I was sitting next to the Chairman. The Chairman's first remark was: 'I congratulate you, Mr. Mayor, on what a humane gesture this is.' I sat down, the applause hadn't even finished yet. Not a minute or two had passed before one of the officials there came over and showed us the investigation on their mobile phone screen, saying, 'Breaking news: An investigation has been opened into İmamoğlu.' Not even a minute had passed! I ask you, I ask: I ask you by believing in your conscience, your sense of justice, and the Supreme Turkish judiciary.

Did the prosecutor who initiated the investigation watch Ekrem İmamoğlu's speech by chance? Or did they act on an instruction to 'take action immediately on whatever you catch' by following Ekrem İmamoğlu's speeches?

Secondly; since there is no possibility that the prosecutor who initiated the investigation did not listen to this speech live, they listened to it live. What system did they use to listen? I don't understand technology. Did they rewind it instantly? Did they listen to it again? Did they listen to it a second time? If they didn't listen, meaning if they say, 'I decided instantly when I heard something, come on, open an investigation, let's open it,' is this possible in the practice of a prosecutor in the Supreme Turkish judiciary? Is this done, is it correct? I am asking this as well.

Thirdly; if it wasn't from a live broadcast – which is in the file – did someone give the instruction, 'There is such news, open an investigation immediately,' by quoting from a website in a screenshot sent via WhatsApp? If it was given, what is written in a fragmented way on that page has nothing to do with what I said. Was this checked? Was this verified? Is this possible within those few minutes? How is this investigation opened? And again, the prosecutor's office that opened this investigation in seconds, immediately, in seconds, says, 'Let's serve this,' and to have it published on that channel that disgraces the first letter of the well-known alphabet, 'Let's run it as breaking news.'

Is it meaningful for the sake of service, for the sake of justice, for the sake of the Supreme Turkish judiciary, for it to be published on that channel that disgraces the first letter of our beautiful twenty-nine-letter alphabet? Is it correct? Does this have any benefit to justice? I honestly don't know, Your Honor.

I don't know, really. Is there? We hold meetings. If someone leaks news to the outside via a message, excuse me, we kick them out of the room. Can such a thing happen? Let's send something instantly. Take a breath. If you are thinking of something regarding Ekrem İmamoğlu, it needs a moment to breathe. What kind of decision is this? What kind of announcement method is this for announcing this decision? Therefore, I felt the need to ask you these four questions, not on my own behalf, but on behalf of the Supreme Turkish judiciary, for the sake of ensuring this judicial process is conducted properly.

Your Honor,

I could say a lot. There is much to be said, but as an administrator of this country, as someone who has the responsibility to add hope to the hopes of this nation, I feel responsible for telling the truth instead of saying too much here, and for ensuring that you grasp these truths in the best way possible within this short timeframe.

Just think about it; they canceled the diploma of a young person who went to university 17 years ago, 35 years later. Look, look, look at the efforts! Cancel a diploma 35 years later, put a lien on their property, put a lien on this and that. Seizing the 75 years of labor of their family...

How will this nation feel secure? Who will trust, who will lean on whom? Who benefits from breaking down doors in front of the eyes of diamond-like children and babies, and carrying out this practice?

Who does it benefit? I ask the Supreme Turkish Judiciary. Who does it benefit? If there is a benefit, let someone explain it to me, let them say, 'It has this benefit.' Then I will say, 'Yes, I support this.' Can such a thing happen?

My friends of 30 years, my friends of 25, 40 years... 20  years ago, people I partnered with, people I did business with 15 years ago, for God's sake, who benefits from bringing them to the courthouse and trying to forcibly extract a bad word about Ekrem from their mouths? Who benefits from them being imprisoned if they don't say anything bad? We pressured a person I haven't seen in 12-13 years, and we didn't even get anything out of them... Who benefits from them being imprisoned? My neighbors in Beylikdüzü, people I worked side-by-side with... Who benefits from calling them in to take statements, saying, 'Don't come with your lawyer, come, let's have a chat'?

These are the individuals' own statements; I am not saying anything fabricated. I do not speak based on gossip. If I were to engage in gossip, I could talk until morning. What things I could tell, what things! Everything about me is transparent.

I am someone who has promised transparency to the nation. My life has been transparent until today, and it will be transparent from now on. My struggle will also be transparent. Therefore, I will certainly fight my lifelong battle before the judiciary against those who commit injustice and lawlessness. Lifelong.

Whose idea was it to show up at the door of my mother and father's summer house without serving a notice? Whose idea was it to show up at my father's door? You break the door, you can't open it; then whose idea was it to find a locksmith to open the door? If you had called my father and someone had said, 'The judiciary is looking for me,' he would have gone to his summer house in three hours and opened the door for the gendarmerie himself. Whose idea was it to involve my fine gendarmerie, my dear police, in these wrong actions? What is being attempted here? What is this? Which crime are you talking about? Such a mentality cannot exist.

Your Honor,

It is a pity, it is a sin. It is a pity for the future of this nation. It is a pity for 300 young people. Your Honor, Mr. Prosecutor, esteemed members; each of you has children, offspring. You have mothers and fathers. That is why I know and want to believe that you are here to make a decision on behalf of the country and the nation. Of course, you say about me, 'He threatened.' Whom did I threaten? Where is the threat in this? I say, 'I will be the guarantor of your children.' I say, 'I will be the guarantor of your future.' And you will see, I will be.

With the will of this nation, with the support of this nation, I will be the guarantor of this nation's future. I swear an oath here. Without leaving even one of this nation's children behind; without looking at their ethnic origin, their lifestyle, their clothing, or the history of their home, I and my friends will bring a system to these lands that will be a guarantor for each of them; a revolution of justice, a revolution of democracy. I swear an oath here, I give my word. In the presence of my nation, and also in the presence of justice, I give my word.

A threat? Get out of here! What threat? Whom did I threaten? I have never fought in my life, let me tell you that. I have neither beaten anyone nor been beaten. No one can beat me, it is not possible. I have not beaten anyone. They say, 'How did you succeed?' Even my father says to me, 'How did you succeed?' I said: 'That is who I am. I am that kind of person.' I bring people together, that is, I reconcile them. Do not worry at all.

In that respect, whether it is a threat or hostility; there is no such thing in my life. It never happened. If you want, go and ask the children in the village, my friends. Let the prosecutor issue a decision, let them ask my childhood friend in the village. Let them say, 'Did Ekrem fight? Did he reconcile you, form teams and make you play matches?' That is why, whether it is a threat, hostility, holding a grudge, or ambition... Thinking badly about someone... I do not even carry jealousy. I am that assertive. I do not get jealous.

Someone in Ankara is jealous of me... What do I care? I am not jealous of anyone. But I am jealous of this, my brother: I am jealous of nations that use their power to oppress my nation on behalf of their own, or that ignore my nation's will with their economy or their will, and threaten my nation's existence in this geography. I am determined to surpass them. That is in my soul.  Our nation will see that too.

So they tell me, 'You committed the crime of threatening...' Oh, come on! When did he read it, when did he listen to it, and then accuse me of the crime of threatening? Publicly insulting a public official... For God's sake, where is the insult in this? This is freedom of expression. At the same time, I am expressing my opinion and my criticism. To whom? To the person managing the system, making the decisions, initiating the processes, and heading the institution. Who else am I supposed to address? Should I talk to some random stranger? Should I sit down and talk to a trash can? That is his duty! He was a deputy minister, now he is the Chief Public Prosecutor. I don't care what happens tomorrow. But that is his duty. That is his area of responsibility.

Who am I supposed to criticize for everything happening there? Furthermore, I am the person who has been trying to reach him for weeks, saying, 'Let's meet, look, I have thoughts regarding Istanbul.' If he grants the appointment, we will meet. No problem. But he couldn't grant it. I don't want to read his mind, but do you know what comes to my mind? 'Why didn't he grant it?' Why didn't he grant an appointment for weeks? I am curious. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality is the institution that provides the most services to the courthouses. Its vehicles, equipment, cleaning, maintenance... We do everything for them. We haven't withdrawn a single penny. How could we dare to?

The nation's institutions serve the nation's institutions. Am I the kind of person to hold a personal grudge? For this reason, I want you to listen to me well and understand me well. What insult? I made my criticism using my freedom of expression. And while making my criticism, I demonstrated my determination to be a guarantor for his protection, even including his family, in the future.

The crime of targeting individuals who have taken part in the fight against terrorism, and so on... Enough is enough! Ekrem and terrorism... I would challenge anyone who tries to associate me with terrorism. It is that clear. I would challenge them! Terrorism and Ekrem... The person who says that should look in the mirror!

I am a patriot of this country. Do you know what people see when they look at me? They see the Republic of Turkey. They see the Turkish flag. They see Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

That is who I am. No one should confuse me with themselves. They are going to associate me with terrorism... They should know their place! Ekrem İmamoğlu and terrorism...

What happened? 'There are five hundred, six hundred terrorists!' What happened? The people they called 'terrorists'—the appointed governor before me, the trustee, someone or other before me... After they were removed, poof, they closed the file. Then what did that person say? 'I said it for political reasons,' he said. Do you label the nation as terrorists for political reasons? There is a martyr, a veteran in every home in this country. What kind of morality is this? What kind of perspective is this? 'Is there something about Ekrem? Add terrorism to it too. Just in case, something might happen...' I vehemently reject this approach, Your Honor. I vehemently reject it.

The person who wrote this has other things in mind. I do not believe in this indictment. It was written with malicious intent.

To place Ekrem İmamoğlu side-by-side with terrorism is a product of malice. And I say this by engraving it into the minds of the honorable judge and all the members: It is shameful, it is a pity, it is a sin! To place Ekrem side-by-side with terrorism... Get out of here!

My opinion regarding these three accusations is clear. Of course, I entrust myself to the supreme Turkish judiciary. However, I see that this process is meaningless, that it is not a proper investigation process, and that it is a poorly prepared one; that it was turned into an investigation within seconds, and that even the statements were not examined. I do not want to think that it was written with malice. But I will certainly examine and follow up on what intent it was written with. In this sense, I do not accept any of the three accusations made. Yes, I am criticizing. I would make the same statements again. As someone who is determined to bring a democracy revolution and a justice revolution to these lands in the future; as someone who defends the rule of law, the separation of powers, and the sovereignty of the national will, I say: Yes, whoever does this evil to me, I will be the guarantor of the beautiful lives of even their children.