Pact of Free Cities share support for Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu

In a statement the Pact of Free Cities expressed concern over the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu stating “We, the mayors of the Pact of Free Cities, express our profound concern over the recent arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a prominent opposition leader and key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. We are equally concerned about the arrest of other mayors and journalists in Turkey and restricting access to multiple social media platforms.

“The Pact of Free Cities was established to uphold and promote the core values of freedom, democracy, human dignity, equality, rule of law, social justice, tolerance, and cultural diversity. We believe that the detention of Mayor İmamoğlu, especially under charges that many perceive as politically motivated, represents a significant threat to these fundamental principles.

“Mayor İmamoğlu’s leadership in Istanbul has been instrumental in advocating for democratic values and progressive urban policies. We recall that the Mayor of Istanbul has been under continuous political attack by the official authorities of Turkey. His recent arrest goes against any acceptable political maneuver in a democratic society. It not only undermines the democratic will of Istanbul’s residents but also sets a concerning precedent for local governance and political plurality in Turkey.

“We stand in full solidarity with Mayor İmamoğlu and the citizens of Istanbul during this challenging time. We call upon Turkish authorities to ensure that democratic political competition is not hindered by any illiberal instruments of state power and that fundamental democratic rights are respected. We demand that due process is followed transparently. We also urge the international community to remain vigilant and to advocate for the protection of democratic institutions and leaders worldwide.

“The Pact of Free Cities remains committed to supporting cities and leaders who champion democracy and open societies. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and offer our support to those who strive to uphold the values we collectively cherish…”

The statement was signed by The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan along with the Mayors of Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Bratislava, the City of Brussels, Budapest, Florence, Gdańsk, Hamburg, Kyiv, Lisbon, Milan, Munich, Paris, Prague, Rome, Sofia, Timișoara, Vilnius, Warsaw and Zagreb.