In his letter, İmamoğlu stated 'there is only one reason for these difficult days': 'My Name is Freedom' event

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu sent a letter to the 'My Name is Freedom' event held in Küçükçekmece, which was also attended by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel. In his letter, İmamoğlu stated, 'There is only one reason for these difficult days: A handful of people who think they are the owners of the state and the masters of the country, and who view the national will as a mere detail, are engaged in a conspiracy against our Republic and our democracy.'

The event was attended by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik, Deputy Mayor of Istanbul Nuri Aslan, İmamoğlu's wife Dr. Dilek Kaya İmamoğlu, and many artists. Thousands of citizens flocked to the cultural center to raise their voices for the release of Ekrem İmamoğlu and the imprisoned mayors.

İMAMOĞLU'S LETTER WAS READ AT THE EVENT!

Ekrem İmamoğlu sent a letter from his cell in Silivri Prison to the event titled 'My Name is Freedom.' The letter was read by CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik.

In his letter, İmamoğlu said, 'My dear companions, dearer to me than my own life; my kind-hearted friends, fellow citizens, brothers and sisters... I greet you all with respect, love, and longing. You are the companions of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who said, "Freedom and independence are my character." No one can keep you from the struggle for freedom and independence. No power can prevent you from walking upright, tirelessly and without hesitation, on the path of justice,' he stated.

Stating, 'You have been proving this truth every week for a year, square by square, district by district, city by city. You are the hope of our nation and the guarantee of our future. I am proud of you. Thank you, may you exist,' İmamoğlu added, 'I heartfully thank everyone who contributed to the realization of this historic meeting and all the freedom lovers who honored this night with their presence.'

'THERE IS ONLY ONE REASON FOR THESE DIFFICULT DAYS'

Continuing his remarks, Ekrem İmamoğlu said, 'My dear friends; there is only one reason for these difficult days we are experiencing as a nation and for these heavy burdens that each of us has to endure: A handful of people who think they are the owners of the state and the masters of the country, and who view the national will as a mere detail, are engaged in a conspiracy against our Republic and our democracy.'

'With their lawlessness and tyranny, they have condemned our country to economic, political, and administrative crises. The holders of power, who fear the national will and run away from the ballot box, were very pleased on March 19, 2025. They thought they had ended my political life, broken the power of the opposition, and guaranteed the upcoming election. But their hopes were dashed,' said İmamoğlu, adding, 'Because there was one thing they could not calculate: For a century, sovereignty in these lands has belonged to the nation, and no one, no power, is greater than the nation.'

'ONE OF OUR NAMES IS FREEDOM, ONE OF OUR NAMES IS JUSTICE'

Continuing his letter, İmamoğlu stated, 'No matter what they do, they will not be able to turn us into a nation whose right to vote and be elected has been taken away, whose rights and freedoms have been destroyed, and which has lost its self-confidence. One of our names is freedom, one of our names is justice. We are courage, we are hope,' and added, 'We are those who want justice first, freedom first, for everyone, everywhere.'

'We are those who see the same rights for others as we see for ourselves. Whether in a dungeon or in a square; we are those who stand by truth, goodness, and love under all circumstances,' said İmamoğlu, concluding his letter with the words, 'Of course we will succeed, of course we will win. Every breath we take as a nation will be free, and the life we live will be fair from beginning to end. Everything will be very beautiful.'