In an unprecedented show of solidarity, dozens of European mayors and municipal leaders have issued a joint statement and video condemning the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Istanbul. The declaration calls for İmamoğlu’s immediate release and urges European institutions to take urgent action to defend democratic freedoms in Turkey.
The statement, coordinated by the City of Paris, denounces what it describes as the “arbitrary imprisonment” of İmamoğlu and others, labeling the move a serious violation of democratic principles and municipal autonomy.
“Elected democratically, Ekrem İmamoğlu symbolizes hope for a future based on pluralism, justice, and respect for fundamental freedoms,” the mayors wrote.
This collective response comes amid growing concern over Ankara’s increasingly authoritarian tilt, marked by judicial actions against opposition politicians and persistent crackdowns on local governance. İmamoğlu, a prominent opposition figure from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), has long been a target of political pressure, particularly since his landslide victory in Istanbul’s 2019 mayoral election dealt a major blow to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling party.
İmamoğlu thanked the initiative’s show of solidarity. The signatories include mayors of major European cities such as Berlin, Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Rome, Stockholm, and Budapest, reflecting a broad consensus across the political spectrum and the continent. Many of the signatories also represent institutions like Eurocities, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, and the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF).
The signatories urgently call on the Turkish authorities to immediately release Ekrem İmamoğlu and all other opposition figures who have been detained for political reasons. They demand an end to politically motivated prosecutions and the ongoing pressure exerted on local elected officials, which they see as part of a broader assault on democratic institutions. Furthermore, they insist that Turkey must uphold and guarantee fundamental democratic freedoms and human rights for all its citizens.
They also appeal directly to the European Union and its institutions to take firm action in defense of the rule of law and democratic norms in Turkey.