Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities sent a clear and urgent message. Their high-level delegation became the first international body to meet me in Silivri, standing in the very place this government uses to contain dissent. They also visited the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, where our team continues to serve the people with integrity.
Council of Europe’s visit to Silivri and their call for my immediate release carry weight. They signal that the fight for democracy in Türkiye is not and will not be forgotten nor ignored.
I am grateful to Congress President Marc Cools, Secretary General Mathieu Mori, rapporteurs Bryony Rudkin and Gudrun Mosler-Törnström, and all members of the delegation. Their meetings with Acting Mayor Nuri Aslan and with District Mayors of Üsküdar and Büyükçekmece underscored an essential message: this struggle is as local as it is universal in defending democratic rights and freedoms.
Their visit aligned with a powerful moment in Strasbourg. The European Parliament has also adopted its Türkiye Report by a wide margin, condemning the deepening collapse of democratic standards. My arrest was recognized for what it truly is, a politically motivated act aimed at preventing democratic competition. With that vote, the European Parliament made it clear that Türkiye’s EU path cannot advance under current conditions.
We, the Turkish people from all backgrounds, will reverse this democratic backsliding and no matter how many voices are silenced, the call for justice will continue to rise.