Family Solidarity Network (ADA), established by the relatives of the victims of the 19 March operation, came together in front of Silivri Courtrooms in its 44th meeting. To meet; NEW Party executives, members of parliament, mayors, district heads, relatives of detainees and representatives of non-governmental organizations attended.
Dilek Kaya İmamoğlu, wife of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality President and Presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been detained in Silivri for more than a year, said, "No matter what, we will continue to find new channels and open new paths to make our voices heard." Dilek Kaya İmamoğlu said:
“A FAIR TRIAL IS A RIGHT”
"As you know, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality trial has been ongoing since March 19. The case is proceeding with very long sessions, sometimes lasting up to 15 hours, under conditions that put human health at risk. Under these conditions, people have difficulty expressing themselves, making their defense and following the trial in a healthy manner. I would like to remind you once again: A fair trial is a right and the conditions in which the trial is conducted are an integral part of the right to a fair trial.
“DETENTION, WHICH WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL MEASURE, IS LITERALLY BECOME A RULE”
Today, we are at the stage where the statements of the defendants who are on trial without detention are being taken. With each statement given, the basic foundations of the accusations in the indictment collapse one by one. We are witnessing once again that our loved ones have been detained for 18 months, based on an indictment based only on hearsay and rumors, without a single concrete piece of evidence. This is exactly what we were trying to say for months when we were drawing attention to the presumption of innocence and saying that trial without arrest should be the basis. People were deprived of their freedom for months before the indictment was prepared; Now, they continue to be detained while the trial continues. While detention should be an exceptional measure, it is almost becoming the rule.
“TRIAL WITHOUT DETENTION SHOULD BE ESSENTIAL”
At the end of this case, when there is nothing left but empty claims and slanders, who will be held accountable for the days stolen from people's lives? We have always asked this question, and we will continue to ask it until we get an answer. Last week, the detention review was conducted once again at the hearing. While all families were waiting with hope to be reunited with their loved ones, an evacuation decision was made for only two people. Of course, we are very happy for everyone who regained their freedom. However, we should not forget that there are dozens of families behind, waiting for the same door to be opened for them. Our demand is the same for everyone: Trial without detention should be the basis.
“WE REPEATE OUR DEMAND FOR THE CASE TO BE BROADCAST LIVE ON TRT”
Today, there are still people in prison even though they have served the required sentence and have not yet been sentenced. The situation has now gone beyond pre-trial detention and has turned into captivity. We do not hesitate to be judged. On the contrary, we want all allegations to be investigated, all evidence to be presented and everyone to defend themselves freely. For this reason, we reiterate once again our request that the case be broadcast live on TRT. It should be published so that the whole of Türkiye can see with its own eyes what happened in this case. It should be published so that the public can listen directly to the allegations and defenses and make its own evaluation. Let it be published so that everyone can see with their own eyes that these cases are not legal, but political.
“FAMILIES, MOTHERS, FATHERS, CHILDREN, AND THE ENTIRE SOCIETY PAY THE PRICE OF WHAT HAPPENED”
Today, more than ever, we need the truth to be revealed clearly. First, the cancellation of Ekrem İmamoğlu's diploma on March 18, 2025, then the detention order for Ekrem İmamoğlu on March 19, 2025, and then the arrest. 18 months have passed since then, and not a single piece of evidence has been produced against the accusations. I ask: What is Ekrem İmamoğlu's detention if not political? Ekrem İmamoğlu has no blemish. Ekrem İmamoğlu has no choice. Ekrem İmamoğlu has nothing for which he cannot be held accountable. But everyone should know that the nation knows very well what was done and why, and the nation will never forgive what was done; just like he will not forget what happened in Üsküdar. The price of all this is not only the elected ones; families, mothers, fathers and children, that is, the whole society, pays.
“THE NEED FOR JUSTICE NEVER CHANGE”
How can you accept the fact that Amine Cansu Çelik was arrested and separated from her 4-year-old child? How many more mothers, fathers, and children will be hurt? How many more families will be torn apart? Authorities and positions come and go, but the wound opened in the conscience of the society leaves deep traces in the memory of the nation. Law and justice are the assurance not only of those who hold power today, but also of everyone who will need justice tomorrow. Because positions pass, people change; but the need for justice never changes.
“LET JUSTICE WORK EQUALLY FOR EVERYONE”
While all this is happening, unfortunately, one of the biggest victims is children, who have no crime or responsibility. The new academic year starts next week. Again, many of our children will start their education life with the longing of their mothers and fathers. Our greatest wish for our children who start school separately from their mothers or fathers is that they reunite with their families as soon as possible. As families, our demands are very basic and humane demands. We want our loved ones to be liberated, children to be reunited with their parents, and no family to have to experience similar separations. No more victimization; Let everyone's belief in justice in Turkey be strengthened again, let people feel safe, and let justice work equally for everyone. "I would like to thank everyone who gave strength to this great solidarity, added voice to our voices and stood by us for months."
İ., one of the lawyers of the İBB Case. Emre Telci said, "Aside from the rights violations that the defendants have been exposed to since March 19, 2025, we, as lawyers, are also faced with many rights violations. In other words, not only the suspects and defendants and their families are victimized, but also the lawyers and the law are victims of this process. In other words, the law is being victimized again by the hand of the law. "The concept of law is being emptied of its essence," he said.
"THE HEARINGS DO NOT START ON TIME AND DO NOT END IN HUMAN HOURS"
Telci said:
"This is a prison campus. Every day, defense lawyers and families seek justice by holding candles in their hands in the darkness of the night on the prison campus, 100 km away from the center of Istanbul... Hearings do not start on time and do not end within humane hours.
Hearings that should start at 10.00 in the morning do not start before 11.30, and hearings that should end around 18.00 in the evening are not ended before 01.30 at night, insistently saying 'we must finish at the end of September'. Lawyers do not have strobe vehicles. They don't have drivers. They come 100 kilometers alone. They return from this prison campus alone. Two of our lawyer friends had very serious accidents. Many of our lawyer friends have told us many times the next day how they narrowly escaped having an accident at night...
As you all know, the courtroom was built in an architecture where judges and prosecutors look down on everyone. The main thing at the hearing is that the faces of the judges and prosecutors are seen by the defendants and their defense attorneys. The face-to-face principle includes not only everyone being in the hall at the same time, but also the parties seeing each other's faces, gestures and facial expressions. However, such a thing is not the case here. We may not recognize the members of the delegation if we see them here. Because we haven't even seen their faces up close. Lawyers were seated away from clients. However, clients need legal assistance from their lawyers at all times..."
Yeni Party Istanbul Deputy Suat Özçağdaş, who was faced with the decision to be removed from the hall at the beginning of the hearing, said, "Actually, I did not plan to make a speech here. I came to Silivri, as I have for 44 weeks, to stand in solidarity with the families and to watch the hearings. "As Mr. Dilek Kaya İmamoğlu and Mr. İsmail Emre Telci explained in detail a while ago, the Silivri persecution process has literally turned into a legal scandal for those who are tried here, for those who are detained, for their families, for lawyers, for members of the press and for the masses who support them," he said.
ÖZÇAĞDAŞ: I UNDERSTAND THAT I AM BANNED FROM THE CASE
Özçağdaş said:
"Even being forced to go to one of the farthest points of Istanbul, such as Silivri, for two hours every day, to go home after midnight and come back in the early hours of the morning, is a fundamental human rights violation... As you followed in the morning, I learned once again that as of today, I am also a NEW Party Istanbul Deputy and I am banned from the IMM Case. I understand that I am banned from the case. You will all remember. There was a discussion in the hall on July 2. I was not a part of that discussion process. But a judge managed the hall. We think there is, but there is also a bailiff. Everyone knows that bailiff very well. He turned around and said to the gendarmes, 'Evacuate the hall.' Now, I am also calling out to all the voters who are devoted to the ruling party who are watching us. For God's sake, does any bailiff have the authority to evacuate the hall to these families who go 2 hours a day and come 2 hours a day, and I said to the court president, 'Mr. You don't have any instructions. Why am I evacuating the hall?' That's what I'm saying. Since the hall is large, we have to call this from a distance several times...
"HOW CAN A CITIZEN OF THE REPUBLIC OF Türkiye MAKE THE DECISION NOT TO ENTER INTO LAWSUIT PERMANENTLY?"
I tried to explain the presiding judge. I have no argument with the president of the court... Of course, there was a holiday after this incident happened. Cases began to be heard again on August 17. And today is September 10, I did not come for 23 days. I am already dealing with a lot of work, both as a Member of Parliament from Istanbul, as someone working in the field of national education, issues related to family solidarity, and as a member of a party that is constantly persecuted, as a member of Üsküdar, but I want to support families. I came after 23 days. What I learned is this: Can't get involved in lawsuits. Now I am calling out to the lawyers from the Justice and Development Party. I am calling out to the AKP Group Deputy Chairmen with whom I served in the same parliament, and to those who served as Ministers of Justice in the previous period. I put aside the fact that I am a member of parliament for one person in the criminal justice system in Türkiye.
How can a citizen of the Republic of Türkiye decide not to be involved in lawsuits permanently? There is no such thing. I decided not to include it under Article 203. I am calling out to the president of the court. You have no such authority..."
