İmamoğlu reacts to arrest of Enes Hocaoğulları: 'Take your hands off our youth': Those who send people to prison will go
CHP's presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is currently imprisoned at Marmara Prison in Silivri, has reacted to the arrest of Council of Europe Youth Delegate and LGBTI+ activist Enes Hocaoğulları.
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Council of Europe Youth Delegate and LGBTI+ activist Enes Hocaoğulları was detained upon his entry into Turkey at Ankara Esenboğa Airport on August 5.
An investigation was being conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against Hocaoğulları on charges of "publicly disseminating misleading information" and "inciting the public to hatred and hostility," based on his speech at the Council of Europe regarding Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu—who was himself detained and arrested—and other imprisoned mayors.
Hocaoğulları, who serves as a youth delegate representing Turkey at the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, was referred to the Criminal Judgeship of Peace with a request for his arrest following his statement at the prosecutor's office. Hocaoğulları was arrested by the court.
İMAMOĞLU'S REACTION TO THE ARREST DECISION
Reacting to the arrest of Hocaoğulları, İmamoğlu used the following expressions in a post shared from his Presidential Candidacy Office account:
"Take your hands off our youth!
Council of Europe Youth Delegate Enes Hocaoğulları courageously took the floor; he said, 'Our disease is democratic backsliding, our symptom is the arrest of İmamoğlu.'
He described the police violence during the Saraçhane protests. He brought the arrest of elected mayors to the agenda.
Because that was his duty: to convey the truth.
And he fulfilled this duty without fear.
Young Enes was detained as soon as he returned to his country. Handcuffs were placed on his wrists while he was passing through passport control. Because the government no longer has any tolerance for the truth.
But whatever they do, it is in vain.
The calendar is turning. Those who do not hesitate to throw young people into prison for the sake of their political future will go, and those who will govern the country with the youth will come.
Today is the time to raise our voices. Today is the time to add our voice to the voices of brave young people like Enes Hocaoğulları.
FOR EVERYONE
JUSTICE FIRST!
FREEDOM FIRST!"