Striking message from Ekrem İmamoğlu: Turkey must be a country of true equality and brotherhood, not discrimination

Quoting Nesimi's 'I do not bow to the ruler of the earth,' Hacı Bektaşı Veli's 'Do not forget that even your enemy is a human being,' and Pir Sultan Abdal's 'Let those who turn back do so, I will not turn from my path,' İmamoğlu said, 'Just as Joseph's well became a station of patience and faith, dungeons are for us a place of testing for justice, patience, and hope. And we know that on the path of the saints, the neck bows only to God.'

'Serving our Hacıbektaş district as the IMM Mayor has been for me not just a municipal duty, but a debt to humanity and the legacy of the Hünkâr,' said İmamoğlu, adding, 'The obstruction of granting cemevis the status of places of worship—the most fundamental demand of our people—despite the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and the fundamental principles of the Constitution, is a shame for this government.'  'Our path is the path of common sense, equality, and reconciliation. Just as mosques are ours, so are cemevis. Turkey must no longer be a country of discrimination, but one of true equality and brotherhood,' he stated.

"MY SPIRIT IS WITH YOU"

IMM Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan stated that he brought İmamoğlu's greetings and love, saying, 'Yesterday, news kept coming in asking, "Who will go on the last night, is there a disruption with our Chairman?" I expressed that our Chairman would go to Hacı Bektaş in any case. He sent his love and respects to both my Chairman and you. He said, "Even if I cannot come myself, even if my body is here, my spirit is with you." I will convey these feelings of solidarity and your love to Mayor Ekrem when I can get permission next week, God willing.'

Stating that Ekrem İmamoğlu always emphasizes that cemevis are places of worship, Aslan said, 'He would fight for them to be evaluated in this status and defend this idea. As you know, our IMM Assembly officially recognized cemevis as places of worship. We see this as a requirement of the understanding of equal citizenship. We advocate that public institutions should treat everyone equally and provide equal service to everyone without discriminating against anyone. I express my gratitude to our deputy, Mr. Gürsel Erol, who had the guesthouse of our Bağcılar Cemevi maintained. May God accept all prayers made with a clean heart and an open mind, and all our good deeds and worship.'

In his letter, which was read by Aslan and received intense applause from the citizens, İmamoğlu said the following:

'My dear ones, friends, beautiful people of the hearth of the saints... First of all, I convey my heartfelt greetings, love, and affection to you all. To those who have prayed to God and the truth, to the travelers on the path of humanity, brotherhood, and peace, to all the friends filling this square, I send a heart full of affection to each of you from the Silivri dungeon. My brothers and sisters; I feel the sadness of not being able to be among you today very, very deeply. I am unfortunately not with you physically this year at this blessed gathering, which I have attended without interruption for 15 years and have supported with all my strength and walked shoulder to shoulder for the last 6 years. But I am in your ranks with my spirit and my heart.'

I know that in these lands, many a sage, dervish, lover, and faithful soul have been hindered by the chains of the oppressor and the shadow of injustice. Many atrocities have been experienced. And they continue to be experienced. On the path we have taken so that the people of these lands may attain the humane life they deserve, a fraternal society, a dignified life, and a just country, we are faced with oppression and lawlessness. Witnessed by history, the 4th Imam, Zeynel Abidin, who carried the grief of Karbala on his shoulders, continued the path of the Ahl al-Bayt both by surviving Karbala and by walking out of the darkness of the dungeon with a light of hope. The chains of oppression did not make him forget the truth. His resistance tells us today, 'No matter what dungeon it is, no matter what obstacle arises, do not give up on the truth.' We also know the story of those who, like Prophet Yusuf, waited while surrendering their innocence. Just as Yusuf's well became a station of patience and faith, dungeons are for us a place of testing for justice, patience, and hope. And we know that on the path of the saints, the head bows only to God. As Nesimi said:

O Nesimi, dear Nesimi, while being a guest of the Rich One

While my intercessor tomorrow is Ahmed-i Muhtar

While the One who provides sustenance for all is the All-Forgiving Rich One

I shall not show gratitude to the sultan of the earth

This quatrain echoes in my tongue and heart today as well. Because I know that every soul present in this square considers not bowing to the oppressor and standing tall by the side of the righteous as a requirement of the Alevi-Bektashi path.

“The Alevi-Bektashi children of this country are

equal citizens of the republic and deserve the service

ensuring they receive the services they deserve is our duty."

My dear friends; as the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, serving our Hacıbektaş district has been for me not just a municipal duty, but a debt to humanity and the legacy of the Hünkâr. We have tried to touch these lands, which have been neglected for years, with love and passion. We have supported its squares, roads, water, food, culture, and faith. Because we know that the Alevi-Bektashi children of this country are equal citizens of the Republic, and ensuring they receive the services they deserve is our duty. With this perspective, we are committed to following up on the fulfillment of the rightful and legitimate demands of our Alevi brothers and sisters in light of the principles of justice, equality, humanity, the legacy of our history and culture, the rule of law, and fairness.

"OUR PATH IS THE PATH OF RECONCILIATION"

The obstruction of granting cemevis the status of places of worship—the most fundamental demand of our people—despite the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights and the fundamental principles of the Constitution, is a shame for this government. Our path is the path of common sense, equality, and reconciliation. Just as mosques are ours, so are cemevis. Turkey must no longer be a country of discrimination, but one of true equality and brotherhood. The law must cease to be a political weapon; the rights of everyone who kneads the dough of these lands, who contributes to the bread, work, and sustenance of this country, and who gives their life and sheds their blood in its wars must be acknowledged. Whether Sunni or Alevi, Kurdish or Turkish, the children of this country must live together in brotherhood on the basis of fair and equal citizenship.

"MAY OUR HUMANITY AND BROTHERHOOD BE ETERNAL"

My dear friends; I find the strength to endure for those tested by oppression in these words of Hünkâr Hacı Bektaş Veli: 'Do not forget that even your enemy is a human being.' We will make the sun of justice rise for all of us, without creating enemies and without marginalizing anyone. This is my prayer and my word, from the Silivri prison to the white doves soaring freely in the skies of Hacıbektaş, and to the peace and justice those doves carry. Let us remain on this path with heartfelt prayers to Hak Muhammed Ali. May our hearts be one, and our goals be one. May our humanity and brotherhood be eternal against the oppression of the tyrant. I embrace you all with longing, using the verses of Pir Sultan Abdal, whose voice has not been silenced for centuries:

"On the day of the great gathering, the court will be established

The guilty and the innocent will come and be resurrected there"

Those without a guide are known in the moment

Let those who turn back turn back, I shall not turn from my path

I am Pir Sultan, our cry reaches the heavens

He, too, is our elder, our guide

May our humble soul be surrendered to the Truth

Let those who turn back turn back, I shall not turn from my path…”