Massive protests have taken place across Turkey in response to the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and the accusations against him, with demonstrations still ongoing.
In Edirne, Turkey’s closest city to Europe, these protests were also carried out with great intensity and enthusiasm.
The arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu was protested in Edirne as well. Citizens gathered at the Şükrüpaşa Neighborhood, İlhami Ertem Street, in front of Dinlenti Park Café, holding Turkish flags and placards, before marching to Edirne Train Station Square (Gar Meydanı).
Upon reaching Gar Meydanı, the crowd recited the “Andımız” (the Turkish National Pledge). Edirne Mayor Filiz Gencan Akın, and CHP Edirne Provincial Chair Harika Taybıllı made a statement to the press.
Edirne Mayor Filiz Gencan Akın said; “Ekrem Başkan (Mayor Ekrem) is entrusted to us, and if Ekrem Başkan doesn’t sleep, we won’t sleep either. If he is not afraid, we won’t be afraid. If he doesn’t stay silent, we won’t stay silent. Now, I ask you, my fellow Edirnelis: Are we afraid? Will we remain silent? Will we give up the fight? We will never give up. Our path is long, our excitement is high, and we are young.”
“We Won’t Allow the People’s Will to be Stolen”
Harika Taybıllı, the CHP Edirne Provincial Chair, also stated: “We are here today not only to shout out our anger against the injustices but also to shout out our determination. If we hadn’t been here today, if we had stayed silent, we would have committed a great betrayal to the future of this country. We won’t allow the trivialization of the law, the trampling of justice, or the theft of the people’s will.”
The protests in Edirne reflected widespread outrage and a firm stance against perceived injustices, showing the ongoing solidarity for İmamoğlu and his supporters across the country.
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