European mayors awarded İmamoğlu democracy award

The mayors of cities representing leading European cities, including Eurocities and the Balkan Cities Network (B40), visited Istanbul. They presented the imprisoned Ekrem İmamoğlu with a "Special Democracy Award."

Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been imprisoned since March 19, received the award from his wife, Dilek Kaya İmamoğlu. Mayors from nine countries attended the ceremony, held at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) main campus in Saraçhane.

The ceremony was attended by Barcelona Mayor and Eurocities Vice President Jaume Collboni, Sofia Mayor and B40 Balkan Cities Network President Vasil Terziev, as well as the mayors of Zagreb, Athens, Timișoara, Utrecht, and Budapest. Representatives from Paris and Madrid also attended.

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan hosted his European counterparts. CHP Deputy Chairs Gökan Zeybek, Suat Özçağdaş, and İlhan Uzgel, as well as Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mustafa Bozbey and Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Aras, also accompanied the delegation.

Nuri Aslan reported that the meeting with the visiting delegation discussed İmamoğlu's "unjust" imprisonment on March 19. Aslan said , "The mayors of Eurocities and B40 member cities have been with us since the very first days. I thank our European colleagues for their support in our struggle for democracy."

Stating that the Ministry of Justice rejected the guest delegation's request to meet with İmamoğlu in prison, Aslan said, "These unjust and unlawful cases directed at İmamoğlu have long been condemned in the conscience of the Turkish people."

Barcelona Mayor Collboni said they came to Istanbul to show their message of solidarity. "Cities are where true democracy is embodied," he said. "As European mayors, we stand together for freedom, democracy, and the rule of law."

Presenting the award, Collboni emphasized that İmamoğlu made a powerful reminder that embodies justice.

İmamoğlu, in a message sent from Marmara Prison through his wife, stated that the award was not an honor bestowed solely upon him. He said, "This award belongs to all citizens in Türkiye and around the world who resist justice and freedom and who do not bow to authoritarian pressure."

Recalling that he has been in prison for over five months, İmamoğlu said, "My resolve has not diminished; on the contrary, it has become stronger. I read, write, think about what's happening in the world, take notes, and develop solutions."

İmamoğlu stated that they implemented a participatory, green, fair, and democratic governance model in Istanbul. He said, “We wanted to spread the Istanbul Model throughout the country. The reason I'm in prison today is this desire for change, this longing for a more democratic, fair, and prosperous country.”

Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomasevic stated that he believes in İmamoğlu's innocence. Tomasevic said, "I've met him many times and know him. He's a very honest, characterful, and courageous person. He always puts the public interest before his personal interests."

Recalling that the B40 Network was founded four years ago under İmamoğlu's leadership, Tomasevic commented, "Only opposition mayors are being imprisoned on corruption charges, and this raises questions."

Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma, who described her city as a "human rights city," said, "Autocratic leaders all over the world are trying to take away our democratic values. I call on everyone in power to release İmamoğlu."

Sofia Mayor Terziev also offered his support, saying, "There is no democracy without free cities. There is no freedom without the rule of law."