Rıza Akpolat Reacts to 23-Year Prison Sentence: 'My Conscience is Clear, My Head is Held High'

Detained Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat has strongly denounced the 23-year prison sentence handed down to him, maintaining his innocence and vowing to fight the verdict. In a statement shared on social media, Akpolat declared, "As I've said from day one, I have not committed a single offense that would cause my children, my family, my colleagues, and the Beşiktaş neighbors I've served for 6 years to hang their heads. My conscience is clear, my head is held high."

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As I've said from day one, I have not committed a single offense that would cause my children, my family, my colleagues, and the Beşiktaş neighbors I've served for 6 years to hang their heads. My conscience is clear, my head is held high.

Akpolat detailed the shifting legal proceedings against him, noting that initial charges of being part of an "organization" were later dismissed when the prosecution admitted no such organization existed. He highlighted the drastic reduction in the requested sentence, from 415 years initially to 234 years, and finally to the current 23-year sentence. He suggested the conviction was based on the testimonies of individuals who were either slanderers for personal gain or coerced under pressure.

"The punishment given to us, solely because of our political identities and views, is a punishment not even meted out to those who attack lives, commit femicide, or harm our children in our beautiful country," Akpolat stated. He has been in detention for nearly two years.

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This too shall pass!

Despite the sentence, Akpolat expressed unwavering resolve. "This too shall pass!" he proclaimed, adding, "We will eradicate the 'slander and acquit' system from our country together with our colleagues, whatever the cost. Sooner or later, those who have the right, not those who have the power, will win!"

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We will eradicate the 'slander and acquit' system from our country together with our colleagues, whatever the cost. Sooner or later, those who have the right, not those who have the power, will win!