Ballot box message from Dedetaş at the Üsküdar rally
Imprisoned Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş reacted to the acting mayoral process in a letter sent to the Üsküdar rally.
12punto
At the “The Decision Belongs to the Nation, Üsküdar Belongs to the Nation” gathering organized by the New Party at Üsküdar Pier Square, a letter sent from prison by the imprisoned Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş was read.
At the rally, where the transition of the municipality to the AKP during the acting mayoral election was protested, New Party Founding Üsküdar District Chair Berk Tütüncü shared Dedetaş’s letter with the public.
Dedetaş began her letter by expressing her longing for the people of Üsküdar and made assessments regarding the events that have taken place since the Üsküdar Acting Mayoral election held on September 8.
Arguing that the process was far from the understanding of political courtesy and national will, Dedetaş stated that the elected will must be respected. Dedetaş said, “If it were an election won fairly, I would congratulate them; but how is that possible? If political courtesy were in play, I would thank them; but how is that possible? If the national will had been respected, I would be proud; but how is that possible?”
“THOSE WHO CANNOT WIN AT THE BALLOT BOX ARE OVERSHADOWING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE”
In her letter, Dedetaş referred to the principle in the Constitution that “Sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation,” and emphasized that the judiciary and administration must derive their power from the people. Dedetaş said, “However, today, those who cannot win at the ballot box want to overshadow the common will of the people.”
Reminding that municipalities are public institutions and are subject to administrative and judicial oversight, Dedetaş claimed that the process in the Üsküdar Municipality was carried out in the shadow of political calculations rather than legal procedures.
Stating that these are days when the measure of detention has turned into punishment, Dedetaş requested that these practices be ended before they lead to further loss of rights. Noting that they built happiness in Üsküdar “together with neighbors who voted or did not vote,” Dedetaş concluded her letter with the words, “Justice will prevail, our unity will win.”