Last year, I was re-elected as mayor of Istanbul with 51% of the vote. It was my second victory over a candidate backed by the government. The first time was in 2019, when the mayoral election results were cancelled on weak grounds. Voters returned to the polls and gave us an even bigger victory.
But this year, democracy in Turkey has entered its most dangerous period. The trouble began in March, just before I was nominated as the presidential candidate for the CHP, the long-established Republican People’s Party. That’s when my university degree was suddenly revoked. Why does that matter? Because under Turkish law, a presidential candidate must have a degree. Soon after, I was accused of corruption and “aiding a terrorist organization.” For the past six months, I’ve been in jail, arrested on politically motivated corruption charges based on testimony from “anonymous” witnesses. In a country that is part of the European Convention on Human Rights, this is unacceptable.
I’m not alone. Across Turkey, more than a dozen opposition mayors are now imprisoned. Sadly, the number keeps growing. In Istanbul alone, over a quarter of the districts have seen their elected leaders arrested, silencing millions of voters in one of the world’s great cities.
Repression has spread to every level—from mayors in cities like Adana and Antalya to municipal staff in Istanbul. Hundreds of people are in prison, including journalists, academics, businesspeople, and students.
Enes Hocaoğulları, a youth delegate to the Council of Europe, was detained simply for speaking out under Turkey’s vague laws against “misleading” the public. This shows how extreme the crackdown has become. His release after protests at home and abroad is a small but meaningful victory for democratic resistance.
Let me be clear about what’s happening. With the arrogance of unchecked power, President Erdoğan is once again using the courts as a weapon against the democratic opposition. This time, opponents are being jailed and replaced with loyalists. Unable to shut down the CHP directly, the government is pursuing a legal case aimed at overturning the results of the party’s 2023 national congress, effectively removing its rising leadership. Earlier this month, a court moved to cancel the CHP’s local congress in Istanbul, dismiss its chair, and install a government-appointed trustee.
This ongoing case against the CHP marks a turning point in the dismantling of political pluralism. A system where judges replace elected leaders with handpicked substitutes is not a democracy.
After hollowing out the country’s institutions to build an authoritarian regime, Erdoğan is now trying to create a weak, compliant opposition. He wants to rewrite the rules so that no real rival can survive, securing power in the style of leaders like Egypt’s Mubarak or Syria’s Assad. These tactics could be copied elsewhere unless democrats around the world stand together against them.
Erdoğan’s increasingly repressive methods reveal his declining popular support and his desperate attempt to hold onto power. To avoid another election defeat, he changes the rules, uses smear campaigns, corruption charges, divides the opposition, and slaps on the “terrorist” label. But these actions have only weakened his legitimacy, leaving him more reliant on a small minority and state machinery.
The people of Turkey are not fooled. Protests fill the streets, and polls consistently show the CHP as the country’s leading party. Since March 19, the day I was detained, millions of citizens—even in areas considered Erdoğan’s strongholds—have joined peaceful protests to demand justice.Despite the risk of arrest and police violence, people continue to resist. This spirit of defiance reflects Turkey’s 150-year tradition of parliamentary democracy. But resistance alone is not enough.
That is why the CHP is developing a detailed roadmap for a democratic transition, aimed at building a strong and inclusive alliance. Our plan includes: winning elections, stabilizing the economy, restoring judicial independence, fighting corruption and organized crime, expanding social rights, rebuilding trust in public institutions, and redefining Turkey’s role in a rapidly changing world.
Turkey’s struggle for democracy, freedom, and justice is not just Turkey’s fight. If a country that has long shown democracy is a universal ideal slides further into autocracy, the effects will be felt far beyond its borders.
Still, I am convinced that the will of the people will ultimately triumph. Our anger in the face of injustice must be channeled into a clear strategy. That strategy must involve creating a new political culture and institutions that honor Turkey’s democratic heritage. If we succeed, we will not only restore democracy at home but also help revive it around the world.
Ekrem İmamoğlu is the elected mayor of Istanbul and the presidential candidate for Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP).
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the statement I was elected mayor of Istanbul yet I am writing this from prison Turkish democracy is in serious danger
General BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Who is the person saying this
This statement is associated with Ekrem mamolu a prominent Turkish politician from the main opposition party who was elected Mayor of Istanbul in 2019
2 Why is the mayor in prison
He was convicted and given a prison sentence on charges of insulting public officials Critics argue the charges are politically motivated to disqualify him from running for office
3 What does he mean by Turkish democracy is in serious danger
He is expressing a view that democratic principles in Turkey are weakening This includes concerns about the independence of the judiciary freedom of the press and the use of state institutions to sideline political opponents
4 Was he actually elected from prison
No He was elected mayor while a free citizen The statement is a dramatic way of highlighting the situation where a popularly elected official faces imprisonment after his election suggesting a conflict between the will of the voters and the actions of the state
Advanced Detailed Questions
5 What are the specific charges against him and what was the sentence
He was sentenced to 2 years 7 months and 15 days in prison for referring to the members of Turkeys Supreme Electoral Council as fools after they annulled the initial 2019 Istanbul mayoral election which he had won The sentence is currently suspended pending appeal
6 How does this situation pose a threat to democracy
A core principle of democracy is that elected officials represent the will of the people When a winning candidate is imprisoned on charges widely seen as politically motivated it can signal that the ruling party is using the legal system to eliminate competition rather than competing fairly in elections
7 What was the context of the annulled 2019 election
mamolu first won the Istanbul mayorality in March 2019 by a narrow margin The ruling AKP party contested the results and the YSK annulled the election citing irregularities A rerun was held in June 2019 which mamolu won by a much larger margin seen as
