Reaction from İlber Ortaylı to Ekrem İmamoğlu: 'This issue is our collective responsibility'

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has been arrested on corruption charges and sent to Silivri Prison.

Imamoğlu's arrest has drawn a wave of reactions from the worlds of politics and the arts. One of these figures was Prof. Dr. İlber Ortaylı.

In a post on his Instagram account, Ortaylı recalled political figures who were arrested in the past and later came to power.

Here is Ortaylı's post:

"All political figures arrested 45 years ago during the coup era later returned to power.

Demirel, Ecevit, Baykal… Our people have never forgotten when respect was not shown to the ballot box and the elected; they gave their answer at the ballot box at the first opportunity. Years pass, methods do not change. We are once again living through historic days.

The public follows the vote they cast at the ballot box and the administrator they elected, and they are sending a very clear message: Those who come by election must leave by election.

Today, society is tense, young people are restless and anxious about the future. The increasing political polarization and the atmosphere of uncertainty are making the question 'What will become of me?' increasingly dominant in the minds of young people.

The country's political life is confined to a few provinces, from municipalities to the central government. Regionalism, although it may appear to comply with the law, is based on local partisan tendencies and strong nepotism to an extent that cannot be approved.

But what about the young people living in other cities who have studied for years, learned foreign languages, and developed themselves? What will happen to the labor, hope, and rights of these children?

The future of the youth must be secured; the bureaucracy and the justice system must regain the trust of the public.

It is not necessary to wait for major crises to occur for this. Necessary regulations and reforms must be implemented immediately.

This is not an issue of a single political party, the government, or the opposition; it is directly a national issue. The future of our children and youth is at stake. And this issue is our collective responsibility."