The New York Times: Banning of Ekrem İmamoğlu's book 'Nation is My Witness'

Ben Hubbard, Istanbul bureau chief of The New York Times, scrutinized the confiscation of the book "The Nation is My Witness" by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been in prison for 1.5 years, at the printing stage and its ban by court decision.

Hubbard stated that since the book was not released, very few people could read the text, and that he obtained a copy and examined the book.

While trying to understand why İmamoğlu's book was banned, Hubbard discussed the decision together with the recent investigations and arrests against the opposition in Turkey.

It was reminded in the news that many opposition politicians and local administrators, including İmamoğlu, were arrested on various charges, and some mayors were suspended from their duties.

Hubbard said, "The New York Times obtained a copy of the book in order to understand why the work of one of Turkey's most well-known politicians was banned and what this says about the state of democracy in the country. The ban of the book 'Nation is My Witness' by the former mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, took place approximately in the second year of the crackdown on political opposition in Turkey."

According to Hubbard, "The Nation is My Witness" consists largely of the defense text that İmamoğlu prepared in the case regarding the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality but could not present in court.

According to Hubbard in court documents, the prosecutor's office requested that the distribution of the book be blocked a few days before it went on sale.

Hubbard likened the book to a long political manifesto and election speech with elements of legal advocacy.

According to the author's evaluation, İmamoğlu praises his supporters who participated in the protests following his arrest, but does not directly call for taking to the streets or taking action. Instead, he calls on citizens to vote and protect democracy and the Constitution.

"İmamoğlu's book resembles a long election speech: A political manifesto that also includes legal defense elements," said Hubbard and continued as follows:

"Imamoglu praises his supporters who organized mass demonstrations after his arrest, but does not call for a direct action. Instead, he calls on people to vote and protect democracy and the Constitution. His criticisms of Erdogan and his government are extremely harsh. He accuses them of abusing their power to stay in power and endangering democracy in Turkey. He writes: 'The issue is whether the ballot box you put in front of the nation is real or fake. Whether the elections are real or fake; very "The question is whether the party system is real or pretend."

According to The New York Times, İmamoğlu focuses on the quality of elections and the democratic system in the book.

The book does not consist only of political evaluations. İmamoğlu also responds to some corruption accusations against him. While explaining why some accounting methods used in the municipality do not contain criminal elements, he denies the allegations made against him.

İmamoğlu also expresses his views on what kind of governance model he would adopt in Turkey if he came to power. Adherence to democratic rules, strengthening the independence of the judiciary and greater representation of women in senior positions are among the prominent promises in the book.

Serkan Özcan, one of İmamoğlu's former advisors, told The New York Times that it was a conscious choice for the book to be based on political defense rather than legal arguments.

According to Özcan, İmamoğlu thought that his defense should also be political, as he saw himself as an elected politician, the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and a presidential candidate:

"He said, 'I am an elected politician, the Mayor of Istanbul and a presidential candidate, so my defense must be political,'" Özcan said.

Özcan associated the banning of the book with concerns about İmamoğlu's political influence and noted that the government wanted to prevent him from addressing the public:

"The person they fear is İmamoğlu. They don't want him to talk. They don't want him to appear. They don't want him to engage in politics."

Hubbard evaluated the confiscation and ban of the book as part of the discussions on the situation of the opposition in Turkey, political competition and freedom of expression.