Athens mayor Haris Doukas has joined many political figures in support of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu following his arrest, calling the actions against him an “attack on democracy”.
Doukas posted on his X account to stand with Imamoglu after his arrest, with the Turkish politician facing serious charges including corruption, rigging of tenders, aiding a terrorist group, and allegedly leading a criminal organization.
The Istanbul mayor, a political rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was detained alongside over 100 others (including journalists and businessmen) and it comes after the recent annulment of his university degree that could disqualify him from running in Turkey’s upcoming presidential elections.
Doukas expressed his alarm at the arrest of Imamoglu in his post, saying:
“We are following the developments in Istanbul with great concern. The arrest of the elected mayor, along with 100 of his associates, is the latest in a series of persecutions against our friend Ekrem.”
The Athens mayor remarked that Imamoglu’s arrest, coupled with the university degree annulment, is another attempt to prevent him from further challenging Erdogan’s leadership.
“The arrest of an elected mayor and their replacement being an appointed one is a serious blow to democracy,” the post said.
Imamoglu’s wife Dilek spoke out on the arrest, condemning what she described as the circulation of “dirty information” surrounding her husband’s arrest.
In a statement made to Turkish media, Dilek expressed frustration over what she perceived as a politically motivated move to undermine her husband’s political future.
“We are still a country of law, even on paper. First, they arrest them, then try to fabricate evidence. Many dirty pieces of information are circulating. Ekrem trusts himself with the people, and one day this nation will ask for an account,” she said.
“No one will remain silent in the face of such injustice.”
She also revealed that their 13-year-old daughter was determined to continue her daily life despite the tension, stressing the emotional impact of the situation on their family.
Regarding the cancellation of Imamoglu’s university degree, his wife described the decision as “unlawful” and part of a larger scheme to prevent him from pursuing his political ambitions, particularly in the run-up to presidential elections.
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