Striking message from Ekrem İmamoğlu against security concerns: 'Our country is strengthened not by fear, but by the will of our nation'
Presidential candidate and imprisoned Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu argued in a social media statement that the government is trying to maintain its existence by creating security concerns within society. In his post, İmamoğlu emphasized that the nation's fundamental issue is true security and stated that Turkey is in need of profound change.
12punto
Participating in the presidential race while imprisoned, and also serving as the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Ekrem İmamoğlu addressed the public via social media.
In his statement, İmamoğlu claimed that the country has long been experiencing a decline in the economy, a weakening of the justice system, and a constriction of democracy, while the government, in contrast, is directing society through a persistent fear of security.
İmamoğlu stated that the state has moved away from the principle of being a common umbrella for its citizens and has been turned into a political tool.
His post included the following prominent remarks:
"The Turkish nation is a nation that has achieved extraordinary things throughout every period of history.
These lands are the homeland of wisdom, knowledge, courage, and production.
Anatolia is not an ordinary geography.
It is the place where a thousand-year state memory has taken root.
It is the will to survive in adversity.
Since the day it was founded, our country has been tested by many threats, attacks, crises, and the possibility of chaos.
That is why our people look for the state in every security debate. The state, however, often remains in the shadow of the current government.
We must put an end to this situation.
Because the state exists to ensure the security and prosperity of us all. While our country has been regressing in the economy, weakening in justice, and unable to breathe in democracy for years; the government is trying to maintain its existence by pumping fear of security.
It is removing the state from being the common umbrella of the nation and turning it into a tool for its own political existence.
The security of our nation is our most fundamental issue.
A strong army, strong intelligence, and strong deterrence are not a choice, but a necessity.
But security is not achieved with an understanding consisting only of weapons and slogans.
True security comes with strong institutions.
It comes with merit.
It comes with science.
It comes with justice.
It comes with freedom.
Security is not ruling the nation through fear; it is giving confidence to the nation.
Growing the state should not be to the detriment of the citizen.
Strengthening the state should not weaken the law.
A great change that will break the ossified layer of fear surrounding this nation's potential is essential.
Under the people's government, Turkey will regain its self-confidence.
Turkey will produce again.
Turkey will write history again.
Because what keeps this country standing is not fear; it is the mind, will, and faith of the nation.
Something will change, everything will change. Not just the government, the climate will change.
And Turkey will walk again toward a future worthy of its history and culture."