İmamoğlu writes about his days in Silivri Prison: He recounts the morning he could never forget...

CHP's presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been detained in Silivri Prison since March 23, wrote to T24 about his days in prison.

Emphasizing that his only agenda is Turkey and its challenges, İmamoğlu stated, "I continue to plan my day within a 12-square-meter cell and a 30-square-meter area."

Noting that his days in Silivri are busy, İmamoğlu said, "With the opening of the Presidential Candidacy Office, work regarding future government programs takes up most of my time. The projects, reports, and planning that will shape our country's future vision, carried out through this office, provide me with both a great sense of responsibility and a strong source of motivation."

Ekrem İmamoğlu wrote the following:

"I place great importance on transforming planned hours, days, weeks, months, and even years into a vision. Being late or keeping people waiting are things I never do. This habit, which became an absolute principle during my time as mayor, is rooted in my childhood. Growing up with a father who was involved in trade and constantly planning instilled this discipline in my memory. The pens and agendas I kept by my side from a young age are proof of this. Dozens of agendas I have kept over the years are still in my archive.

In this environment of conspiracy, captivity, and lawlessness into which we have been ruthlessly pushed, I found it appropriate to start this way to explain what kind of agenda and planning we are facing.

Today, I am being held in isolation in Prison No. 9 due to a judicial system that signs off on decisions not based on law, but directly for the purpose of punishment. I continue to plan my day within a 12-square-meter cell and a 30-square-meter area. Due to prison rules, I try to maintain my meetings with my lawyers, specially permitted visitors, and my family through daily and weekly plans.

MY AGENDA IS TURKEY

My agenda is, of course, Turkey. Turkey's future, the problems awaiting resolution, the activities of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the disregard for the rule of law, and the situation the judiciary has brought the country to... Especially with the opening of the Presidential Candidacy Office, work regarding future government programs takes up most of my time. The projects, reports, and planning that will shape our country's future vision, carried out through this office, provide me with both a great sense of responsibility and a strong source of motivation.

‘SPECIAL’ MOMENTS WITH ÖZEL

In addition to my routine meetings with my family, the fact that our Chairman, Mr. Özgür Özel, has been visiting me since the first week, our exchange of ideas, and our evaluations that will contribute to the process with a common mind are very special moments that keep me strong in my cell.

We carry out all this work away from technology, only by writing and reading.

My day starts at 7:30 in the morning. When the courtyard door opens around eight, my space expands a little. Between reading hours, exchanging ideas with visitors, and communicating with lawyers regarding the many lawsuits filed, I usually end the day at midnight. My daily needs, personal care, cleaning, meals, and exercise also form an important part of my daily flow.

My most important goal is to start a period of great development in the first election by pulling our country out of this difficult situation it has been dragged into. I continue our work, which we carry out in coordination with the Republican People's Party, through readings, projects, report reviews, and articles. Sometimes I write my notes two or three times to reach their final form. Since there is no magazine sale in the prison canteen, I read the photocopies of the articles I am interested in, daily newspapers, and internet articles selected by my friends through my lawyers.

These shares of mine will sometimes be notes I have taken from what I have read, and sometimes thoughts about our lives that concern us all. I will try to continue the eye-to-eye, heart-to-heart dialogue I have established with our nation through these lines this time. My belief that we will meet again when this oppressive order ends is complete.

WE ARE PREPARING TURKEY FOR THE FUTURE

Transparency and inclusivity have been my fundamental principles throughout my 16-year political life, from my time as Mayor of Beylikdüzü to my time as Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, and then to my presidential candidacy process. And they will continue to be. I will continue to address children and young people, that is, our future, in particular.

In my political journey, I said, "If there is İmamoğlu, there is a solution; always happy, always free; Istanbul Alliance, Turkey Alliance; everything will be very beautiful." I have always represented a spirit that is solution-oriented, inclusive, and in favor of goodness. By saying "Istanbul is yours," I reminded the public that they are the true owners of every blessing. With populist services such as People's Milk, free transportation for mothers, nurseries, dormitories, student scholarships, and City Restaurants, I said, "I am distributing the nation's money to the nation." Today, we are preparing all these services for the future of Turkey.

AN UNFORGETTABLE MORNING ON ISTIKLAL STREET

As I remember what I went through after the 2019 elections, I better understand the value of the bond I established with the public. On the first Saturday after I received my mandate with an 18-day delay, I held a meeting at IETT at 6:30 in the morning, and then I went for a walk on Istiklal Street in the early hours of the morning. The shops had not yet opened, and there were only people taking their first steps of the day on the streets. The air was cool, but the words of love rising from the crowd warmed my heart.

Citizens were coming up to me in groups to take pictures. After a while, a small child holding his father's hand tightly in the crowd caught my attention. I called out, "Let our son come." The child broke away from the crowd and threw his arms around my neck. His father said with tears in his eyes, "We are AK Party supporters, but our son admires you; he convinced us, and we gave our vote to you."

A while later, a young woman got out of a taxi and hugged me, saying, "I came from England to vote." Then, a young man who was doing his morning cleaning in front of a restaurant came running: "Mr. Mayor, I am Kurdish. You made us reconcile, you brought us together at the ballot box. I am no longer shy. Don't forget us!" he said.

That morning, Istiklal Street became not just a walking path, but a square where I integrated with the public.

OUR STRUGGLE IS FOR DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE

Just as I felt in those days, I know today that I have millions of fellow travelers. A mentality that is disconnected from its nation, does not feel the society, and does not give up partisanship will eventually forget the nation. We, on the other hand, are fighting for everyone, from newborn babies to our elderly, for the Republic, democracy, and justice.

I am also following sports as much as I can during my prison days. The Diamond League, tennis, swimming, and volleyball tournaments interest me. However, it is thought-provoking that our country is in failure despite its large population and talent potential in these areas. Except for a few branches, we are not at the desired level in terms of sports. I believe that sports and education should be intertwined. It is not difficult at all to achieve the successes we miss in sports with an order where science, discipline, and hard work are at the forefront, away from political pressure. As long as we believe, as long as we give this opportunity to our youth.

WE WILL GROW HOPE

My dear friends, mothers, fathers, young people, and children;

In the second century of our Republic, we will build a democratic Turkey together where everyone is equal and free. We will proudly wave our crescent-and-star flag in every field from science to art, from economy to sports.

From now on, I will strive to share my thoughts on life with you. Those who try to put walls between us and separate us will always be disappointed. Our hope will grow by uniting. Until free days come, our conversation will change shape a little, but our dialogue will never be broken.

Determination and faith...

With perseverance and determination,

In the light of reason, science, the Republic, democracy, and justice

Everything will be very beautiful.

I embrace you with longing"

News Source: 12punto