Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, who is detained in Silivri Prison, made a statement on his social media account before his 44th birthday.
Sharing his feelings about his second birthday, which he spent in prison away from his family and loved ones, Akpolat described the process he went through as a "journey of truth".
"SİLİVRİ IS NOT A DUNGEON FOR US, IT IS A SCHOOL"
Stating that his birthday is just hours away, Akpolat started his post with the following words:
"There are only a few hours until my birthday, around 22.30. I am 44. The life we live is actually everyone's own journey towards truth. I am growing up by learning something new and taking lessons every day on this journey."
Evaluating the period he was in prison, Akpolat stated that he saw what he experienced as a transformation process.
Akpolat used the following statements:
"Undoubtedly, the situation we are in, this state of captivity, is a birth pain, as we have seen many times in history. This birth will take place, and we, together with our nation, will pave the way to true freedom."
In his assessment of Silivri Prison, Akpolat said, "This is exactly why Silivri is not a dungeon for us, but a school, so to speak. Until that day comes, we will continue to wait patiently, accepting the ordeal but working hard..."
"IT'S MY SECOND BIRTHDAY THAT I SPENT AWAY FROM MY FAMILY"
Stating that he was away from his family and loved ones due to his detention, Akpolat explained that he struggled with the feeling of longing the most on his birthday.
Akpolat said, "Apart from all these feelings, this is my second birthday that I spent apart from my wife, daughters, family and loved ones. Perhaps this longing is what challenges us the most in this journey."
TURKISH MESSAGE FROM PRISON
Akpolat stated that he took his baglama in his 13 square meter ward when the feeling of longing was overwhelming and shared the following lines:
“Separation and longing have taken their toll on the soul
Morning wind, news from my lover..."
Explaining that he heard his friends' voices from the prison corridor at this moment, Akpolat continued his message as follows:
“Then, just as tears were about to flow from my eyes, I hear my friends' voices from the corridor... and this time with a louder voice;
They call it a private place, I stayed in the dungeon
I will stay, I will stay, my friends are on my side..."
"NO ONE SHOULD BE DESPITE"
Akpolat gave a message of hope and solidarity at the end of his post.
Akpolat said, “Nobody should despair,” and completed his statement with the following words:
"It is a duty to live in this place of fire. To live is to remain human..."
WHAT HAPPENED?
Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat was detained and then arrested in January 2025 within the scope of the investigation carried out against the municipalities by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
Akpolat, who was suspended from duty by the Ministry of Internal Affairs after his arrest, was sent to the prison in Silivri.
While Akpolat denied the accusations against him in the statements he made during his detention, he continued to share his messages about the process on his social media account.
