İmamoğlu Slams Second Arrest of Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan

Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, speaking from Silivri Prison, sharply criticized the renewed detention of Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan.

In a social media message, İmamoğlu described the arrest as politically motivated and without legal foundation.

“He is imprisoned on the absurd charge of including our Kurdish citizens in governance,” İmamoğlu said.

Şahan has already spent six months in detention. According to İmamoğlu, prosecutors revived charges without evidence, despite a coalition partner of the government recently acknowledging that the case had no legal basis.

“Just two days ago, your coalition partner openly stated this was not a crime. Suddenly, the prosecutor took his statement on fabricated charges and ensured his second arrest,” İmamoğlu declared.

A Broader Pattern of Political Pressure

İmamoğlu accused authorities of deliberately sustaining politically motivated detentions:

“The aim is clear: to punish my colleague Resul Emrah Şahan unjustly, without offending the government’s partner. Where is the justice in this, for heaven’s sake?”

He further stressed that the pressure was not limited to Şişli. Referring to recent events in Bayrampaşa, he added:

“This time the target is our Bayrampaşa Mayor Hasan Mutlu, who has dedicated his entire life to students and his colleagues. They too are facing similar intimidation.”

Message of Defiance

In his statement, İmamoğlu argued that the government’s actions reflected weakness and fear of electoral defeat:

“Enough is enough! We understand, you are desperate. We understand, you are afraid. And you know you will lose the election. If you have even a shred of conscience, stop doing this evil to the people.”

He concluded with a message of resilience and hope, promising that public will cannot be suppressed:

“See it clearly: whatever you do, you cannot divert us from our path. Neither your pressure nor your oppression will succeed. The people of Turkey will prevail, its youth, its workers, its citizens. Together, we will build a country admired by the world. This path ends in the people’s victory.”

Context: Second Arrest Raises Questions

Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan was reportedly referred back to court for detention after prosecutors reopened the investigation. His case has drawn national attention due to allegations that the accusations, linking him to supposed irregularities in municipal governance, are politically charged.

The renewed arrest came shortly after public remarks by a senior government coalition partner admitting that the accusations did not constitute a criminal act. İmamoğlu cited this contradiction as proof of political maneuvering rather than legal process.

Political Climate and Opposition Leaders

Observers note that the case against Şahan coincides with mounting political and legal pressures on opposition figures across Turkey. Mayors from major districts in Istanbul, including Bayrampaşa, have also reported harassment and investigations.

For İmamoğlu, already detained himself on separate charges, the arrests symbolize a broader attempt to weaken opposition-held municipalities and undermine electoral competition ahead of the next national vote.

Public Reaction

The renewed detention has sparked backlash among opposition supporters, with many seeing it as part of a systematic effort to criminalize dissent. Critics argue that the move undermines judicial independence and reflects the deepening polarization in Turkish politics.

Pro-government voices, meanwhile, insist that prosecutors are fulfilling their legal duties and that no one is above the law. The divide reflects the tense political atmosphere as Turkey moves closer to another election cycle.

“The People Will Prevail”

By directly linking Şahan’s case to broader struggles for democracy and justice, İmamoğlu framed the arrests as part of a larger confrontation between government oppression and the public will.

His defiant message from Silivri Prison sought to reassure supporters that, despite mounting pressure, the opposition remains steadfast.

As İmamoğlu concluded: “This road leads to the people’s victory.”