Striking message from İmamoğlu for the October 29 march in Kadıköy: It is a threat to the Republic and democracy

IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu sent the following letter to the October 29 march on Bağdat Avenue in Kadıköy:

“Dear Istanbulites, my kind-hearted, brave fellow citizens; dear young people who illuminate our future, beautiful-faced children; ladies and gentlemen; dear children of the Republic; I greet you with respect, love, and longing. Happy Republic Day. Today is our greatest holiday, because the Republic is the reason for our existence as a nation. It is our pride, our honor. The Republic of Turkey, where sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation, free and independent, was not established easily. The foundations of our Republic were laid in Sakarya, Dumlupınar, on many battlefields, on many fronts, with the blood and lives of the nation. The foundations of our Republic were laid in Samsun, Erzurum, Sivas, and Ankara with the will of the nation, with the determination and resolve of the nation. The Republic, the most precious legacy of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, gave sovereignty unconditionally to the nation and made the citizen the sole owner of this country. As Atatürk said, ‘The spirit of the Republic of Turkey is national sovereignty.’ No one, no institution, can place their own will above the will of the nation.”

"ANY MINDSET THAT SEES ITSELF ABOVE THE WILL OF THE NATION IS A THREAT TO THE REPUBLIC AND DEMOCRACY"

“All administrators and all institutions of this country are obligated to respect the polyphonic, colorful, and pluralistic structure of the national will. Any mindset that sees itself above the will of the nation is a threat to the Republic and democracy. Every attempt that disregards national sovereignty, such as declaring the will expressed by citizens through elections invalid simply because it is against one's own interests, is an attack on the essence of our Republic.

The Republic means independence. It requires not only military and administrative independence, but also economic, political, financial, and cultural independence. Those who seek legitimacy outside the country that the nation has not granted in order to protect their seats, and those who bow to foreign power centers and make concessions against the country's interests, are a threat to our independence and our Republic.

Whoever basely exploits even the most serious issues, such as ‘espionage,’ to get rid of their political rival or to suppress the will of the nation, know that they are a threat to our independence and our republic.”

"REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS MUST BE ONE BODY"

“My dear friends, my brothers and sisters; the Republic is democracy, secularism, and the rule of law. The Republic is justice and freedom. The Republic is the acceptance and guarantee that women have equal rights with men. The Republic is reason, science, and production. The Republic is the protector of the unprotected. It is for everyone to be supported without having to beg from others, regardless of their identity, belief, or political preference, and to have all the conditions necessary for a humane life. A mentality that has not internalized the Republic in all these aspects, that does not fulfill the responsibilities given by the Republic, and that openly or insidiously fights against the principles and values of the Republic, is a threat to our Republic. Today, we are experiencing the enthusiasm and happiness of celebrating the 102nd anniversary of our Republic. But today is also the day to grasp and fulfill the requirement of Atatürk’s words, ‘The Republic requires high-character guardians.’ ‘Guardians of the Republic’ are obliged to be more active, determined, and brave today than ever before. In the face of threats and attacks against our Republic, all republicans and democrats must be one body.”

"LONG LIVE A FULLY INDEPENDENT TURKEY"

“Otherwise, we will lose all the historical gains we have achieved in the name of equality, justice, and freedom. All the suffering endured and all the prices paid will be in vain. We cannot allow this, and we will not. With a republican spirit, using all methods of democratic struggle, we will walk toward the goal together, with heart and soul, with hope, with courage, and without tiring. Our goal is to reach the ideals the Republic has set before us and to fully implement the principles and values of the Republic. Our goal is to make Turkey a country where justice and freedom prevail for everyone, everywhere… where abundance and prosperity are shared fraternally… a country of peaceful and happy people of honor and virtue. For this, we will fight with patience, effort, and courage, and we will definitely succeed. Everything will be very beautiful. Long live the Republic… Long live Mustafa Kemal Atatürk… Long live a fully independent Turkey. Ekrem İmamoğlu. Silivri Prison.”

News Source: 12punto