Erdoğan's Eid message features remarks on İmamoğlu and 'new solution process': 'To cover up the bribery cycle...'

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan released a message for the Ramadan Feast.

Erdoğan's Eid message also included the new opening process, which MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli is the architect of and which they call a 'terror-free Turkey,' as well as the investigations launched into the İBB.

Erdoğan said, "I wish for it to be a means of peace, salvation, well-being, and brotherhood for our country, our nation, the Islamic world, and all of humanity." 

Referring to the call for laying down arms and dissolution made by terrorist leader Abdullah Öcalan, Erdoğan stated, "We do not have unlimited time or patience. We expect the organization to dissolve itself and lay down its arms completely without further delay." 

In his Eid message, Erdoğan referred to the 'corruption' investigation in which İBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested and targeted the protesters who reacted to İmamoğlu's arrest.

"The looting of resources allocated for services to Istanbul, with its infrastructure and superstructure, for the sake of personal ambition and private commercial interests is the greatest betrayal committed against the people of this city," said Erdoğan, adding, "We leave those who have lost their senses to the point of targeting public security and our economy to cover up the cycle of corruption and bribery; and those who act with the mindset of 'if we collapse Turkey, we will also collapse the government,' to the discernment of our noble nation."

Erdoğan's Ramadan Feast message is as follows:

"My Noble Nation, Dear brothers and sisters, I greet you with my most heartfelt feelings, with affection and respect. I sincerely congratulate you on your blessed Ramadan Feast, which we have reached after completing another month of Ramadan, whose beginning is mercy, middle is forgiveness, and end is salvation from torment. I wish for the Ramadan Feast to be a means of peace, salvation, well-being, and brotherhood for our country, our nation, the Islamic world, and all of humanity. I offer my praise and gratitude to my Lord for allowing us to reach another Ramadan Feast in health and well-being.

"THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA IS REACHING A MORE DIRE DIMENSION"

Unfortunately, we spent this month of Ramadan with a heavy heart due to the oppression, massacres, and suffering experienced in different corners of our heartland. In particular, the genocide in Gaza is constantly reaching a more dire dimension with images that would break the heart of anyone with a shred of conscience, morality, or reason. As Turkey, we clearly express our stance against this brutality and try to heal the wounds of our brothers and sisters with our aid. However, as long as the world, especially Western countries, does not take practical action against this oppression, the courage and audacity of the oppressors increase, and the cries of the oppressed reach the heavens. I hope the coming period will lead to an awakening on this issue all over the world.

"WE ARE CLOSELY FOLLOWING THE DEVELOPMENTS IN SYRIA"

On the other hand, we are following the developments in our neighbor Syria, which also concern us closely, moment by moment, and we are taking the necessary precautions. We are aware of those who want to maintain the instability on our southern borders by sabotaging the steps taken within the framework of Syria's territorial integrity and national unity, and hopefully, we will not allow any of them.

"WE EXPECT THE ORGANIZATION TO DISSOLVE ITSELF WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY"

Likewise, we are continuing the work we started in line with our 'Terror-free Turkey' goal in accordance with our roadmap. Our state has done its part by ensuring that the call is made. Now it is the organization's turn to comply with the call without any ifs or buts. We do not have unlimited time or patience on this matter.

We expect the organization to dissolve itself and lay down its arms completely without further delay. Our global, regional, and internal dynamics offer us a ground more suitable than ever for such a process to conclude successfully. When we achieve this together, we will hopefully have completely rid our country of a bloody and difficult scourge of 40 years.

"WE WILL TAKE MORE EFFECTIVE STEPS TO PREPARE ISTANBUL FOR AN EARTHQUAKE"

My Noble Nation... Another issue that we have never let fall from the top of our agenda for the last two years is the reconstruction of the earthquake zone. On the occasion of the second anniversary of the earthquake, we delivered the keys of 201 thousand of our residences to their rightful owners. We aim to increase this figure to 453 thousand, including residences and workplaces, by the end of the year. Thus, by fulfilling the promises we made to our nation to the letter, we are fully compensating for the physical destruction of the earthquake. The memory of our losses, each of whom we remember with mercy, will of course live in our hearts forever. By rebuilding our cities, we will offer a new horizon and a new opportunity to our citizens whose lives were turned upside down by this great disaster. We pray that our Lord protects our country and our nation from such disasters. Of course, the earthquake threat continues to be our most important issue in many parts of our country, especially in our Marmara region. Although we, as the government, have made all our plans and preparations, we cannot achieve the transformation at the speed we desire due to the indifference of the municipalities. In the coming period, we will take more effective steps to prepare Istanbul for an earthquake, with additional measures to overcome this problem if necessary.

"NO ONE SHOULD GIVE CREDENCE TO THE DILUTION OF JUDICIAL PROCESSES"

The operations recently carried out by our security and judicial forces have helped us better understand the reason for the delays caused by the municipalities.

The looting of resources allocated for services to Istanbul, with its infrastructure and superstructure, for the sake of personal ambition and private commercial interests is the greatest betrayal committed against the people of this city. Of course, every Istanbulite has the right to hold those who steal their future, their children's future, their lives, their safety, and their peace accountable. No one should give credence to the politicization and dilution in our country of judicial processes that are applauded as a 'requirement of democracy, the rule of law, ethical politics, and principled governance' when they emerge in Western countries. We leave those who have lost their senses to the point of targeting public security and our economy to cover up the cycle of corruption and bribery; and those who act with the mindset of 'if we collapse Turkey, we will also collapse the government,' to the discernment of our noble nation. I express my gratitude to every Istanbulite brother and sister who will take ownership of their life and their city with a realistic, fair, and conscientious attitude, taking into account the new developments that will emerge in the judicial process.

As the President and the government, we will continue to work and struggle with determination to bring our country to the levels it deserves in every field in line with our Turkey Century vision. On this occasion, I expect all my citizens who have set out on the road during the holiday, which we extended to 9 days with administrative leave, to obey traffic rules.

Once again, I wish for the Ramadan Feast to bring tranquility to our spirits, love to our hearts, peace to our country, and peace to the oppressed geographies.

I greet each of my citizens with affection once again. Happy Eid.