Support message for Ekrem İmamoğlu from Bremen State Premier Bovenschulte: 'We demand his immediate release'

Bremen State Premier Andreas Bovenschulte stated in a post on Instagram on March 25, 2025, that he shares the same view as his party, the SPD, regarding the treatment of Ekrem İmamoğlu. In his message, Bovenschulte shared his views with the public through a detailed text accompanied by an image featuring Ekrem İmamoğlu.

''I condemn in the strongest possible terms the politically motivated arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu and support the political stance of the SPD party leadership on this issue: We demand the immediate release of Ekrem İmamoğlu and all other political prisoners. We are watching the systematic erosion of the rule of law in Turkey for years with great concern and sadness.

The arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu is another link in a chain of politically driven punishments and constitutes a direct attack on free elections in Turkey.

Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has successfully governed Istanbul with a clear majority for many years, enjoys broad public support not only in Istanbul but also beyond.

The arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was officially nominated by the CHP last Sunday for the next presidential elections, is an attempt to sideline the strongest existing political rival through fraudulent means.

The citizens of Turkey have the right to determine the future of their country's political leadership through free elections. Moving away from democracy is the wrong path. A return to the minimum standards of the rule of law and free political elections is in the interest of everyone living in Turkey.

Our solidarity is with the people who are peacefully demonstrating against the arrests in Istanbul and other cities in Turkey. We firmly support our sister party, the CHP, in its struggle for a free and democratic Turkey.

Freedom for Ekrem İmamoğlu!''