Eight European Mayors, Including The Mayor of Utrecht, Sharon Dijksma, Paid A Protest Visit to Istanbul This Week. Together they want to show support for the arrested Mayor Ekrem imamoglu.
On Wednesday Evening, A Large Protest March Toke Place in Istanbul Against the judgment of imamoglu. The European Mayors Were Present and Were Cheered by the Protesters.
The Idea to Go to Istanbul is an Initiative of the Organization Eurocities, A Network of European Mayors. “As Chairman of the Association of Dutch Municipalities, I Often Participate in Initiatives of Theirs,” Dijksma Tells NU.nl. “After imamoglu’s imprisonment, The Idea also Arose to Travel to Istanbul Together.”
Imamoglu was arrested in March for Insulting and Threatening the public prosecutor of Istanbul. A few months later he was sentenced to a prison term of one year and eight months. Several Lawsuits and Investigations Are Pending Against Him. Before his judgment, he was an important political rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“Our Goal was to show our solidarity in Image and Sound,” Says Dijksma. “Another point is that we because to ask the European Commission to be critical of the fact that a local democracy is under pressure. It is negotiating with turkey about Accession to the EU.”
Delegation was not allowed to visit imamoglu
In Addition to Dijksma, The Mayors of Barcelona, Paris, Madrid, Athens, Budapest, Zagreb, Sofia and the Romanian Timisoara are participating in the Visit. The Mayors of Various Turkish Cities are also participating.
The Group of Mayors had Planned To Visit Imamoglu in Prison, But they were not allowed to do so. Neverberthess, The Group Went There To Make A Statement.
“We would have liked to speak to him,” Says Dijksma. “He has conveyed a message to us through his wife and the acting mayor, to tell us that knows we are here.”