Emotional moments in prison... He held Vahap Seçer's hand and wept: 'They want to destroy my family, my life; they want to bury me between concrete walls'
Ekrem İmamoğlu, who sent a message of unity from prison, caused emotional moments as he held Vahap Seçer's hand and spoke. As debates over the party congress and nullity grow within the CHP, İmamoğlu's call of "do not leave me alone" drew attention.
12punto
Before the court case that caused a congress crisis in the CHP was heard on June 30, the imprisoned Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Ekrem İmamoğlu sent a letter to Mersin Metropolitan Mayor Vahap Seçer, Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş, and CHP Party Assembly Member Engin Özkoç.
In his letter, calling for unity against a possible "absolute nullity" decision in the party, İmamoğlu requested that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and Özgür Özel be brought together.
KILIÇDAROĞLU REJECTED THE CALL FOR UNITY
Upon İmamoğlu's call, the three individuals visited Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. During the meeting, Kılıçdaroğlu was asked to make a clear statement of support to the public against the nullity decision.
However, Kılıçdaroğlu rejected this request. Kılıçdaroğlu said, "I cannot make such a statement. I hope an absolute nullity decision does not emerge, but if it does, I will not leave the party to a trustee. We will talk to Mr. Özgür after the decision." In his latest statement, Kılıçdaroğlu repeated similar words, emphasizing that "the CHP cannot be handed over to a trustee."
EMOTIONAL MEETING: "THEY WANT TO BURY ME HERE"
Vahap Seçer and Engin Özkoç, who went to the prison to convey Kılıçdaroğlu's statements to Ekrem İmamoğlu, witnessed emotional moments at Marmara Prison. Journalist Saygı Öztürk reported what happened during the meeting. According to Öztürk, İmamoğlu held Seçer's hands and said the following:
"Vahap, you have children, and I have children. I have a family, and you have a family. Yes, we are mayors, but they are trying to destroy my family. They are trying to destroy my circle. They are trying to destroy my life. I had a life that I built for years, even before I entered politics. I was not dependent on anyone. I had money, I had a job. But I am paying the price for standing tall in politics here. Could there be a mentality that thinks of leaving me alone here?"
Saygı Öztürk stated that there was a deep silence in the room during the meeting and that Engin Özkoç was also moved. İmamoğlu's words, "They want to bury me between concrete walls," were the most striking moment of the meeting. While hearing these words, Vahap Seçer made eye contact with İmamoğlu, whose hands he did not let go of, and could not hold back his tears.