Message from Silivri to the convention: Resul Emrah Şahan’s call for ‘early elections’ and İmamoğlu from CHP

Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan, who was arrested as part of the "Urban Consensus" operation conducted in Istanbul and replaced by a government-appointed trustee, sent a letter to the Republican People's Party’s (CHP) 21st Extraordinary Convention. The letter, penned by Şahan from Silivri Prison, was left on every seat at the Nazım Hikmet Culture Center in Yenimahalle, where the convention was held.

In the letter sent to the critical convention held by the CHP with an early election agenda, Şahan addressed party members and delegates, stating, “We will get out of here, we will bring the early election ballot box. We will make Ekrem İmamoğlu our President.”

''I GREET YOU ALL FROM THE SILIVRI DUNGEON''

Imprisoned Mayor Şahan described the convention, gathered under the leadership of CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, as a “historic day” in his letter. Beginning with the words, “I know that your minds, your thoughts, and especially your hearts are with me. I am very well. I continue to work and produce,” Şahan stated that he draws strength from the support given to him by party members.

Stating that the CHP’s decision to hold a convention is a stance against “dark minds,” Şahan used the following expressions:

“Tomorrow, one of the historic days for our Republican People's Party will be experienced. You all know that our Chairman, Mr. Özgür Özel, and our staff have decided to go to an extraordinary convention, acting bravely against the dark minds that keep us imprisoned here and the dirty hands that attempt to set a trap for our party, which is the guarantor of our Republic.”

In the section where he addressed party members, Şahan emphasized the 102-year history of the CHP and said, “You will be the heroes who protect our party, our founding values, and our presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is currently imprisoned.”

''FREEDOM FOR İMAMOĞLU, EARLY ELECTIONS FOR THE COUNTRY'' 

The imprisoned Mayor of Şişli stated that after the convention, they must fight for “freedom for Ekrem İmamoğlu and early elections.” Calling on delegates to take an active role in the signature campaign, Şahan wrote, “I am sure that you will determine the best result in our journey to power with your collective will. Greetings from Silivri to our nation and to all our delegates who continue the struggle with determination.”

Calling on them, “Do not let the shadow of anxiety pass through your hearts for even a moment,” Şahan said, “You will continue the struggle outside, and we will continue it here. We will fight for Ekrem İmamoğlu, for our Şişli Municipality that they have seized, for our mayors who were unjustly arrested, including myself, and for our resisting nation. And believe me, we will win.”

LEFT ON THE SEATS, NOT THE HALL 

Şişli District Governor Cevdet Ertürkmen had been appointed as a trustee to replace Şahan, who was arrested on March 19 as part of the “Urban Consensus” operation. The CHP had described the trustee appointments as a “political operation.”

The letter sent by Şahan to the convention was delivered to all delegates gathered in Ankara for the party’s extraordinary meeting.