Esenyurt Mayor Özer's 'earthquake' message: 'An issue above politics'

Esenyurt Mayor Prof. Dr. Ahmet Özer, who was arrested approximately 6 months ago, made a statement regarding the 6.2 magnitude Marmara earthquake. 

"Six mayors, who were working heart and soul to prepare the city for an earthquake, are being held in Silivri through political judicial operations. Our call is to all relevant institutions; we must prepare Istanbul for an earthquake by taking science and reason as our guide, and we must be in cooperation. Because such issues are above politics and are too vital to be sacrificed to political operations," he stated.

The statement by Esenyurt Mayor Prof. Dr. Ahmet Özer, who was arrested on charges of "membership in a terrorist organization," removed from office, and replaced by a trustee, regarding the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Istanbul yesterday, was shared via his social media account. 

First of all, get well soon to Istanbul and all of Turkey.

Get well soon to our Esenyurt, because Esenyurt is also a small Istanbul.

However, today, six mayors of Istanbul, led by our Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who were working heart and soul to prepare the city for an earthquake while in office...

— Ahmet Özer (@profdrahmetozer) April 24, 2025

"OUR WORK WAS DISRUPTED AS A RESULT OF A POLITICAL CONSPIRACY"

Conveying his best wishes to the public, Özer said, "First of all, get well soon to Istanbul and all of Turkey. Get well soon to our Esenyurt, because Esenyurt is also a small Istanbul. However, today, six mayors of Istanbul, led by our Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who were working heart and soul to prepare the city for an earthquake while in office, are being held in Silivri through political judicial operations. We know that an earthquake is a natural disaster. The essential thing is not to turn this natural disaster, which we cannot prevent, into a catastrophe, and to make our cities earthquake-resistant for this purpose. Unfortunately, the work we started in our Esenyurt with the motto 'Resilient City Esenyurt' was disrupted as a result of the political conspiracy we were subjected to."

Stating that "It is essential for the safety of our people against earthquakes that this work be carried out with a spirit of mobilization as soon as possible," Özer concluded his words as follows:

"Our call is to all relevant institutions; we must prepare Istanbul for an earthquake by taking science and reason as our guide, and we must be in cooperation. Because such issues are above politics and are too vital to be sacrificed to political operations. We are conveying this expectation from Silivri. Once again, I convey my best wishes to all Istanbulites, especially our Esenyurt, which is among the districts closest to the earthquake epicenter."