İmamoğlu’s Prison Letter: “Turkey Is Being Looted by Greedy Networks”

In Muğla’s Menteşe district, thousands rallied under the banner of the “We Won’t Give Up Our Land Platform,” a coalition of villagers from 30 provinces protesting legislation that opens olive groves to mining operations. The protest drew national attention, with CHP leader Özgür Özel attending in person. But the most powerful moment came from Silivri Prison, where Istanbul Mayor and CHP’s presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu sent a blistering letter condemning the government.

A Letter from Prison That Electrified the Crowd

The letter, read aloud to the crowd, began with heartfelt words: “Sevgili Akbelenliler; yurdunu, ülkesini canı gibi seven, vatan toprağına canı gibi sahip çıkan, benim temiz kalpli, cesur vatandaşlarım.” İmamoğlu thanked villagers for their “honorable struggle,” positioning them as defenders of the nation’s dignity. His words carried special weight, written behind bars, where he remains detained in what supporters call a politically motivated case.

Government Accused of Selling Out the Nation

İmamoğlu leveled fierce accusations at the ruling government: “Ülkemiz maalesef, adalet ve merhamet duygusunu yitirmiş, haksız kazanç ve çıkar şebekeleri tarafından yağmalanıyor. 86 milyonun haklarını, bu ülkenin menfaatlerini korumakla yükümlü iktidar, bu kirli sürecin tam merkezindedir.” With these words, he charged the government not only with negligence but with active complicity in the plunder of Turkey’s resources. Far from acting as guardian of the public good, he described those in power as willing participants in corruption and exploitation.

Olive Groves Sacrificed for Mining Profits

The attack was not abstract. İmamoğlu cited the notorious case of Akbelen, where villagers and environmental activists have resisted deforestation and land grabs by mining companies. “Milletin haklarını hiçe sayan bu iktidar, Akbelen’de de anayasayı ve hukuku çiğneyerek, baskıyla, zulümle sonuç almaya çalışıyor,” he said, framing the government’s actions as both unconstitutional and tyrannical. To him, olive groves, rivers, and forests are not bargaining chips but the very essence of national identity and survival.

Warning Against Short-Sighted Exploitation

İmamoğlu acknowledged that mining is important but insisted that reckless, profit-driven projects come with devastating consequences. “Maden yatırımları, ülkemiz için elbette çok önemlidir. Ancak riskleri doğru hesaplanmamış, geri dönüşü olmayan tahribatlar yaratan, vatandaşlarımızı ağır bir biçimde mağdur eden yatırımlar, yanlış ve tehlikeli yatırımlardır.” He reminded the public that the costs of such policies are not temporary—they are intergenerational. What is destroyed today will haunt the country for decades.

A Stark Message to the Government

The letter’s sharpest edge came in its final warning: “Kısa vadeli siyasi hesaplarını, birtakım küçük grupların çıkarlarını kamu yararının ve memleketin geleceğinin önüne koyanlar şunu çok iyi bilsinler ki; kimsenin yaptığının yanına kar kalmayacağı günler yakındır.” İmamoğlu declared that those responsible for environmental destruction will face accountability both at the ballot box and in the courts. His reference to the 26 million square meters of forestland lost since 2018 was a direct accusation of systemic betrayal of public trust.

A Call for Resistance and Patriotism

For İmamoğlu, the defense of olive groves and forests is nothing less than national defense. “Akbelen’de ve ülkenin dört bir yanında ormanlarımıza, zeytinliklerimize, derelerimize, yaylalarımıza, verimli ovalarımıza, su kaynaklarımıza sahip çıkanlar, vatan müdafaasındadırlar.” He framed environmental activism as a patriotic duty, urging citizens to join the struggle against exploitation. His closing words, “Çünkü başka vatanımız yok ve biz, bu vatanı canımızdan aziz biliyoruz,” resonated with the crowd, blending environmentalism with the language of national survival.

Government’s Moral Bankruptcy Laid Bare

The speech, though written from prison, carried the force of a political manifesto. It depicted a government that has abandoned its duty to protect its people, choosing instead to side with profiteers. The accusation was stark: instead of defending the future of 86 million citizens, the ruling elite is actively enabling the looting of the nation. For a leader silenced behind bars to articulate this charge underscores the deepening crisis of Turkish democracy.