İmamoğlu criticizes arrest of Yeni Parti official: 'Politics has limits'

İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu has strongly criticized the arrest of İlksen Özalper, the founding provincial chair of the Yeni Parti in Manisa. Özalper was detained in Manisa and subsequently arrested in Ankara, a move İmamoğlu decried as an example of the "cruelty and lawlessness" of operations conducted by the palace and judicial bodies. "Words fail these days to describe the cruelty and lawlessness of the operations carried out by the palace and its judicial arms," İmamoğlu stated, emphasizing that while no one is arguing against trials, pre-trial detention should not become a foregone conclusion. He expressed sorrow upon learning of Özalper's arrest, asserting that such swift detention and arrest decisions erode any notion of justice, fairness, or law. İmamoğlu highlighted the human cost of these actions, pointing out that individuals have families and lives, and that "playing with people's lives should not be this easy." He accused the government of attempting to convince the public that these operations are not political, but asserted that the "esteemed nation sees the truth." The İBB President characterized extending political rivalries to families as a sign of "weakness" and stated that justice cannot be served by targeting people's spouses, children, siblings, or friends. "Pressuring, intimidating, or seeking revenge through families is not justice," İmamoğlu declared. He concluded by emphasizing that both politics and struggle must adhere to a code of ethics and boundaries. "If your حساب is with us, we are here to face you. Leave families alone!" he urged, drawing a clear line between political opponents and their families.