21.03.2025 12:50
A 59-year-old retired citizen residing in Istanbul has started to keep vigil in front of the house of İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been taken into custody. The citizen, who wants İmamoğlu to be released, said, "I am following my vote. I cast a vote. It was stolen. I don't want to sit at home, watch television, and munch on carrots. I will be here until I die."
İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediye (İBB) Başkanı Ekrem İmamoğlu, yolsuzluk ve terör soruşturmaları kapsamında 19 Mart'ta gözaltına alındı. Gözaltının ardından 59 yaşındaki emekli Metiner Gündoğdu, Ekrem İmamoğlu'nun evinin önünde nöbet tutmaya başladı. Her gün sabah erken saatlerde bisikletiyle Kağıthane'den İmamoğlu'nun Sarıyer'deki konutunun önüne gelen Metiner hava kararıncaya kadar nöbet tutuyor.
"I PURSUED MY VOTE"
Gündoğdu, "I pursued my vote. I cast a vote. It was stolen. I don't want to sit at home, watch television, and nibble on carrots," he said. Referring to Fakir Baykurt's novel "The Revenge of the Snakes," Gündoğdu continued, "Seek your right, Kara Bayram, seek your right. Go to the streets. Even a snake takes its revenge while it is still alive. Please, enough already. I swear my republic has been stolen. They slipped it out of our hands. Our republic, our democracy is being stolen. The principles and revolutions of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk are being stolen. Enough, just stop for a moment. It's as if a swarm of locusts from outer space has invaded the country. How can you be so insatiable? They are plundering. Lawyers, judges, doctors, pharmacists, workers, employers, bosses, don't stop, this is the last chance. They have nailed it down, they will cover us up. Either you rise up or we will perish," he said.
"I WILL BE HERE UNTIL I DIE"
Addressing CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, Gündoğdu said, "Dear Özgür Özel took a nice step at the last moment. For God's sake, be the cement. Bring this people together like water and sand, unite us. Either make us concrete, so we can stand tall and collapse on them, or stand like concrete and draw our borders. Long live democracy," he said. Gündoğdu, who wants İmamoğlu to be released, stated, "Otherwise, this matter will not end here." Stating that he will continue his vigil, Gündoğdu said, "I will be here until I die. I can't sleep, I can't lie down. I won't be able to account to my son and grandson. I am very sad about this," he expressed.