06.05.2026 23:32
During the Ludwig Erhard Summit held in Germany, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and his wife Dilek Kaya İmamoğlu were honored as "two freedom fighters".
At the Ludwig Erhard Summit held in Germany, Ekrem İmamoğlu and his wife Dilek Kaya İmamoğlu were honored as "two freedom fighters."
During the speeches at the summit organized by Weimer Media Group, Ekrem İmamoğlu's detention process, press freedom in Turkey, democratic rights, and judicial processes were discussed.
Delivering the opening speech of the summit, Weimer Media Group Editor-in-Chief Christiane Goetz-Weimer argued that Ekrem İmamoğlu is in prison "because he fought for free speech and free elections."
WRITTEN MESSAGE FROM İMAMOĞLU TO THE SUMMIT
In her speech, Goetz-Weimer stated, "Ekrem İmamoğlu's work clearly demonstrates one thing: The power of democracy grows from below. Trust, participation, and open debate are born in cities. A vibrant urban society forms the foundation of free states."
In the written message sent by Ekrem İmamoğlu to the summit, the following expressions were included: "I am not among you today. I address you from my cell in Silivri. The very fact that my voice reaches you is a struggle in itself. Because they want to imprison not only my body but also my voice. I was arrested in March 2025. Immediately after, my social media account with approximately 10 million followers was shut down by a court order. My posters were removed. My name, my image, my voice were erased from the public sphere. This is not a coincidence. This is part of a plan to silence a political opponent."