Imamoğlu Vows to Continue Fight After Book Ban

Detained Istanbul Mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu has issued a defiant response after a court ordered his book, "Millet Şahidimdir" (The Nation is My Witness), to be banned and its printing halted even before its release.

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I will not be silenced! I will not stop and I will not surrender! Millions will read this book together with the nation. Everyone will see my defense. Including the censors!

The book reportedly contains İmamoğlu's defense statement, which he was allegedly prevented from fully delivering in court. In a statement released through his presidential candidacy office, İmamoğlu declared, "I will not be silenced! I will not stop and I will not surrender! Millions will read this book together with the nation. Everyone will see my defense. Including the censors!"

İmamoğlu detailed a series of actions he claims have been taken against him, including the cancellation of his diploma, attempts to imprison him, bans on his image and voice, repeated suspensions of his social media accounts, and the obstruction of his right to defense in court. He asserted that the latest ban on his book is another attempt to suppress his voice and prevent his participation in what he described as a "democratic race."

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They feared the democratic race, so they canceled my diploma. Tutuklanıp hücreye atılmamı istedi. Sesimi, yüzümü, fotoğrafımı yasaklattı. Sosyal medya hesabımı defalarca kapattırdı. Yetmedi, mahkemede savunma hakkımı dahi engelletti. Sanıklara soru sormama bile tahammül gösteremedi.

"They feared the democratic race, so they canceled my diploma. They wanted me arrested and thrown in a cell. They banned my voice, my face, my photograph. They shut down my social media account multiple times. It wasn't enough, they even blocked my right to defense in court. They couldn't even tolerate me asking questions to the defendants," İmamoğlu stated. He concluded by reiterating his resolve, "Now, they have banned my book containing my defense, 'Millet Şahidimdir,' even before its publication. Presses were raided by law enforcement, and books were collected. I will not yield! I will not be silenced! I will not stop and I will not surrender! Millions will read this book together with the nation. Everyone will see my defense. Including the censors!"

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Now, they have banned my book containing my defense, 'Millet Şahidimdir,' even before its publication. Presses were raided by law enforcement, and books were collected. I will not yield! I will not be silenced! I will not stop and I will not surrender! Millions will read this book together with the nation. Everyone will see my defense. Including the censors!