Imamoglu's take on the 'photo of political party leaders taken at the TBMM': A snapshot of the government's desperation

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor and CHP presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is currently detained at Marmara Prison in Silivri, conducted an interview with journalist Murat Sabuncu from T24 through his lawyers.

Imamoglu responded to a question regarding the controversy surrounding the photo taken by AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with opposition leaders at the TBMM's new legislative year opening reception on October 1:

"Turkey is witnessing such political violence and polarization that even the President of the country and opposition party leaders posing for a photo under the roof of the TBMM is now met with surprise. It is a great misfortune that these meetings have not taken place until now, not that this photo exists. We or other opposition parties are not responsible for this. The person who has been straining the country for years and attacking opponents with insults and threats has brought us to this point. The fact that this photo has been debated for 15-20 days shows us a lot about the quality of our democracy. Turkey is not governed by democracy, but by those who oppose it."

"This photo is a state of necessity for a government that feels lonely and powerless, seeking legitimacy through opposition political parties it has never valued, ignored, alienated, and subjected to the worst insults until today. This great effort to be seen in a photo with opposition leaders, and the attempt by palace photographers to capture the desired shots, shows us that there is a mise-en-scène at play. It is necessary to remember how the government has attacked these leaders for years with language never before seen in politics, using crude expressions like 'traitor' and 'terrorist' until just yesterday, and addressing them with the highest level of anger and hatred. We must recognize that this politics, conducted with a 'two-faced, opportunistic, and the end justifies the means' mentality, employs every kind of hypocrisy and insincerity when needed."

"THE PRESIDENT IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NEGATIVE PERSPECTIVE"

As for the discussions on social media... The sole responsibility for the negative perspective that even a single photo creates in society, and for becoming reactive even to a civilized environment that should be normal, lies with the President and the government mentality that has cast aside handshaking, courtesy, and sportsmanship in politics. I see the public's reaction to this photo as a warning and protest against a government that is responsible for hostility toward those who are not like them, the polarization the country is experiencing, and all kinds of political and unlawful attacks carried out through state institutions and the judiciary.

Of course, since I am in detention, I cannot access social media and can only follow events in a limited way. By the nature of our political understanding, we do not provoke anyone against anyone on social media, either institutionally or politically. I do not label what is happening as tension. Let me offer a friendly warning to those who attempt to judge us by setting up a court based on isolated comments: Politics is a job that must be done with sensitivity. Furthermore, when we are in such a critical process, everyone needs to act with care for the sake of the nation's future.

"DEM PARTY IS VOICING THE LAWLESSNESS"

The DEM Party has been voicing the injustice done to us since the beginning of the process of shelving democracy that started on March 19. Their stance is quite valuable at a time when they are in an intense negotiation process with the government. For years, we have stood against the injustices done to them, primarily the imprisonment of Mr. Demirtaş and Mr. Yüksekdağ, and for this reason, we are accused of 'supporting terrorism' by the government in every election period. We are not saying this now; we have been expressing for years that Mr. Demirtaş and Mr. Yüksekdağ should remain free. Let there be no misunderstanding; we do not look at who the injustice is done to. What we defend is the existence of the Republic of Turkey, the national will, and the rule of law. We will continue to defend it. Standing against injustices is the duty of not only the CHP but all democrats in our country."

"IT IS A SNAPSHOT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S DESPERATION"

İmamoğlu continued his remarks as follows:

"The line of solidarity we are talking about is a matter of all democrats who think about the future of Turkey protecting our country by waging a common struggle. Our Chairman is making calls to democrats at rallies. Why? Because the salvation of national sovereignty depends on all democrats taking ownership of their own will.

I also hear that some citizens are angry at the opposition party leaders in this photo. There is nothing to be angry about. This photo is a snapshot of the government's desperation. If the person who expelled Mr. Davutoğlu from the party he chaired, who made statements that fit neither our religion nor political ethics, such as 'he is dividing the ummah,' to Mr. Babacan for founding a party, and who has accused DEM Party members of terrorism for years, needs such a photo today in search of legitimacy, this is only an expression of the desperation of those in power.

What did we say? 'There is no salvation alone, either all together or none of us.' And we are fighting by fully embracing this motto. Let alone judging this photo, I stand in a place that embraces our Chairman's statement, 'The era of opposing the opposition is over.' However, I see that some friends with whom we were in an alliance in the past are taking isolated comments on social media too seriously and are using expressions towards us that we do not deserve at all.

I sincerely address them: The CHP's Chairman, Central Executive Board (MYK), Party Assembly, and presidential candidate are clear. Targeting us through comments you see on social media may be very easy politically. You can say whatever you want, you can choose whatever politics you want. We are fighting against the greatest political siege Turkey has ever seen. We choose this struggle. We live with this struggle. The nation will evaluate everyone according to their choices."

"IT IS NOT THE CHP'S STRUGGLE, BUT THE NATION'S"

Stating that "We are living through a heavy and suffocating period of oppression," İmamoğlu noted the following:

"It is not just CHP members, but all of Turkey's democrats who are worried about our country's future, dreaming, and wanting our country to finally find peace. The government is targeting not just the CHP, but the sovereignty of our entire nation, our democracy, the law, and our conscience. We are not living through a normal period, but a heavy and suffocating period of oppression. Given this situation, we cannot retreat into our shells when we should be struggling as a nation and in unity to bring democracy, justice, and peace to our country. The struggle we are waging is not the CHP's struggle, but the nation's struggle. We said the phrase 'There is no salvation alone, either all together or none of us' with belief and sincerity. We have always pursued a nation-oriented policy. Our party, which invites all democrats to the struggle, does not have and has never had a personal or individualistic policy. Our concern is not 'to be in power alone,' but to save, protect, and elevate the Republic of Turkey and our beautiful people, whom we love more than our lives and our freedom. Those who have doubts should count the days we spent in prison."

"THEY ARE USING THE IMPRISONMENT OF DEMİRTAŞ AND YÜKSEKDAĞ AS A BARGAINING CHIP"

In response to a question regarding the fact that former HDP Co-Chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ have not been released despite the ECHR ruling, İmamoğlu replied as follows:

"Mr. Demirtaş and Ms. Yüksekdağ should not have been inside yesterday, nor should they be today. Both were put in prison because of their political activities and the speeches they made. We all know that if the solution process that began in 2013 had not ended, they would not have been put in prison. Acts that were not considered crimes between 2013 and 2015 began to be treated as crimes by the government and the judiciary after 2015, even though the laws and statutes had not changed, which is why Mr. Demirtaş and Ms. Yüksekdağ were put inside. When the era changed, acts that were not previously considered crimes became crimes. Let's say, what's done is done, and look at today. What are we talking about today? What is the commission established in Parliament talking about? What are those who initiated talks with the organization talking about? That the members of the armed terrorist organization and the founders of the organization should not receive sentences..."

If such a process is to begin, why are Mr. Demirtaş and Ms. Yüksekdağ still being kept inside? Surely no one is thinking of releasing PKK members while keeping politicians inside. Since that is not going to happen, why don't they release Mr. Demirtaş and Ms. Yüksekdağ? And that is despite the ECHR rulings. Let me tell you why they are not releasing them. The government wants to use both them and other politicians inside as bargaining chips. The government wants to have more leverage in the negotiations to be conducted tomorrow. They are keeping Demirtaş and Yüksekdağ inside to use in the bargains they will make with the organization and the DEM Party. Because they are not sincere, because they are not consistent, and worse, they are not serious...

They are stealing people's days, nights, the hours they would spend with their loved ones, and their health for their own political calculations. There are thousands of people in prison who should not have spent even a single day there, and against whom no investigation should have even been opened. It is all because of this government's political calculations. There is a government in our country today that can do anything for its political calculations, throwing whoever it wants into prison and ignoring the crimes of whoever it wants."

"OUR COUNTRY MUST BE A REGIONAL ACTOR"

İmamoğlu responded to the question regarding the agreement reached in Gaza as follows:

"The signing of a ceasefire and peace agreement following two years of destruction in Gaza and the death of tens of thousands of civilians is undoubtedly a hopeful development for humanity. However, I always say: Peace is not merely the silencing of guns. A system must be established where the Palestinian people can return to their homes, their wounds are healed, they can live safely on their own lands, and justice is restored. When we evaluate the agreement within this framework, some fundamental weaknesses stand out. First of all, since the implementation, monitoring, and sanction mechanisms are not clearly defined, there is a high risk that this agreement will be violated on the ground. Neither an independent monitoring body has been envisioned, nor have sanctions been determined to be activated in case obligations are not met."

The primary parties on the ground, namely Israel and Hamas, are not direct signatories to this agreement. This disconnect severely limits the feasibility of the ceasefire on the ground. Lasting peace is only possible when the actual actors of the conflict take ownership of the process, not through the threats or pressure of other parties. There are serious uncertainties regarding humanitarian access and reconstruction. Israel's restriction of aid convoys immediately after the agreement is a worrying picture. The role of the Palestinian Authority, who will carry out the re-administration of Gaza, and the oversight powers of institutions such as the United Nations and the European Union have not been clearly defined. This institutional vacuum poses a serious obstacle to long-term stability.

Peace in Palestine gains meaning only when people can return to their homes, children can go to school, and basic living conditions are ensured. A fair and lasting peace process based on a two-state solution, where the Palestinian people's right to self-determination is recognized, will only be possible with the restoration of security and justice not just in Gaza, but also in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Turkey's role should not be limited to ensuring a ceasefire and persuading Hamas in prisoner exchanges. Our country must be a regional actor that throws its weight behind a two-state solution for a lasting and fair peace."

"I FOUND THE POSES GIVEN WITH JOY VERY TRAGIC"

When asked, "Many people saw and interpreted a disconnect between the photograph of the leaders reflected in the cameras during the signing ceremony in Egypt and the pain being experienced. What is your view?" İmamoğlu replied:

"I found the photographs shared after the agreement signed in Sharm el-Sheikh, and the frames where leaders were laughing and joking in front of a 'Permanent Peace and Prosperity' slogan that has not yet been allocated, to be very tragic, given that no one has been held accountable for the human tragedy in Gaza and there is no credible perspective on lasting peace yet. Because behind those frames are families still pulling the corpses and belongings of their loved ones from under the rubble, children looking for a safe shelter, and hundreds of thousands of people unable to access basic needs. This reality brings with it a much deeper sense of responsibility than the optimism conveyed by the photographs."

It is tragic for humanity that this meeting took place with such joy and a festival-like atmosphere in a picture where 70,000 lives have been slaughtered, hundreds of thousands of people have been desperately and hopelessly displaced, and are tested with hunger every day. A photograph is only as meaningful as the values it represents. The smiles of the leaders on the stage will only find their due response on the day when the pains on the ground are eased and justice is restored. Until that day, it will be interpreted as an empty victory, or worse, as insensitivity and indifference. Until the faces of the people of Gaza smile, none of ours will be able to smile. May Almighty God be with our Gazan brothers and sisters who are still dying and suffering oppression."

"IT IS A MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY"

When asked about the criticisms regarding his message to Maria Corina Machado, who received the Nobel Peace Prize, Imamoglu stated the following:

"I have stood by the rightful cause of the Palestinian people for years. Whatever every true son of Anatolia raised in this country feels when it comes to Palestine, I feel the same. Even in these days when I am facing legal challenges, my heart and soul are with the innocent people in Gaza who are tested every day by hunger, oppression, and massacres. We have never stopped our efforts regarding what we can do to ensure that Palestine is recognized by the whole world and becomes a nation whose rights are respected. Peace prevailing in both our own geography and the Muslim geography is our unchanging agenda. For this reason, those who speak with ill intent about the post I made, especially over the Palestinian issue, should look at where we have stood since the past."

My post regarding the Nobel Peace Prize is a message of solidarity that salutes not a person, but a principle: democracy, freedom, and the will of the people. The Norwegian Nobel Committee dedicated this award to 'those who believe in democracy even in the shadow of dictatorships.' I responded to this statement, to this universal call for democracy. Unfortunately, while offering this congratulation, I was unaware of her views on Palestine or that she dedicated the award to the US President. When I saw it, I was deeply disappointed. While my intention was very clear, I would like to express my great regret if there is even one brother or sister of ours whom I have hurt or upset on this matter. However, I also have a few words for those who see this as an opportunity and have the audacity to accuse us of hoping for foreign interference:"

"The sole authority and the only body we expect to rely on for our struggle for democracy and justice is the noble Turkish nation. We have no other address than the nation, and we cannot have one! Foreign interference is not only carried out with guns, rifles, or ultimatums. Any situation where a country cannot make independent decisions is also foreign interference. Today, we are faced with a picture where those who expect legitimacy from across the ocean make unimaginable concessions, sign more expensive natural gas agreements, and plan to market our country's rare elements to other countries for next to nothing in their raw form. It is our right to expect those who release detainees with a single phone call, who hand over the file of a journalist murdered in their own country to the likely perpetrator with a single phone call, and who swallow their words from yesterday today, to at least feel some shame and remain silent. Those who claim that we are hoping for foreign interference should first explain their own search for 'legitimacy' from abroad and the concessions they have made to other countries behind closed doors."

"CEMEVIS ARE THE PLACES OF WORSHIP FOR OUR ALEVI CITIZENS, PERIOD"

In response to a question regarding MHP Chairman Devlet Bahceli's statement that "the obstacle to Cemevis being places of worship must be removed," Imamoglu replied as follows:

"We must confront all the attacks and massacres that have targeted Alevis and our other citizens, such as in Maras, Corum, Gazi Mahallesi, and Sivas. This is necessary both to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and to prevent them from happening again. A crime or massacre for which no account is given will inevitably repeat itself. On the other hand, as a politician who believes that all the demands of our Alevi citizens regarding equal citizenship must be met, I support every initiative aimed at meeting the demands of Alevis, regardless of where or whom it comes from. We have been saying for years that Cemevis should be recognized as places of worship. It has been the mentality of the current government that has stood against this fundamental demand for years. For me, the issue is clear: Cemevis must be recognized as places of worship, and all discriminatory rhetoric and practices against Alevis must be ended. Cemevis are the places of worship for our Alevi citizens, period."

Initiating this process is very overdue and is a matter that should never have been debated. For this reason, I hope it is completed urgently and that Alevis fully attain their rights to faith. I suggest that once we secure a parliamentary majority in the IMM after March 31, 2024, a parliamentary decision be adopted—solely with the votes of the CHP group—that grants cemevis the status of places of worship, allowing them to receive services, and I recommend that they examine the text of that decision. However, you are right about one thing. The Alevi initiative did not come onto the agenda out of nowhere, just like the process that has been ongoing for a year. The government did not suddenly decide to become democratic and start saying, 'Let us meet the rightful demands of our citizens.' A major geopolitical transformation is taking place in our region, and the government partners are both trying to take their own precautions against this transformation and trying to use this transformation as an opportunity to consolidate the authoritarian regime they have established. By bestowing a few rights upon Kurds and Alevis, they aim to pacify citizens in the face of the authoritarian regime.

"OUR ONLY SOLUTION IS AN ELECTION"

They are making such overtures not because they believe in equal citizenship or social peace, but because they are concerned with keeping their government ship afloat and maintaining their authoritarian regime amidst the changing conditions of the world and the region. If this were a government concerned with equal citizenship and social peace, would so many innocent people—youth, women, children, journalists, politicians, activists, villagers, and unionists—be in prison? While gangs, the mafia, profiteers, and thieves are held in high regard and walk free, would so many innocent people be imprisoned? Would people be afraid to open their mouths? If this were a government concerned with equal citizenship and social peace, would the country's leading party be subjected to attempts to paralyze it through the judiciary? No, as I said, their concern is not equality, rights, or law, but staying in power through patronage. In their own minds, they want to say to our Kurdish and Alevi citizens, 'Look, we are doing something.' Wouldn't one ask, where have you been all these years? Wouldn't one ask, what about justice, what about the economy, what about rents, what about market prices, what about children going to school hungry? It is clear that the government lacks the ability to solve these issues and has no path to success with this system. Our only solution is an election, the ballot box, and the replacement of this government."