Wife of Istanbul Mayor Condemns Alleged Gendarme Intervention

Dilek Kaya İmamoğlu, wife of Istanbul's Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, has spoken out against an alleged physical altercation involving her husband. During a court session for the İBB case, Ekrem İmamoğlu was reportedly pushed by gendarmes as he was being escorted from the hall. His wife condemned the incident, stating that any intervention causing a person to fall, followed by its dismissal, is unacceptable. "We will not allow the normalization of any practice that suspends the rule of law and devalues human dignity," she declared. "We will never abandon our struggle for a Turkey where justice operates equally for everyone and no one's dignity is violated."

Under the heading "This is a grave disrespect," Dilek Kaya İmamoğlu emphasized that no individual, especially while under detention or arrest, should be subjected to treatment that compromises their dignity or endangers their safety. She characterized the treatment of her husband as a profound disrespect not only to him but also to the rule of law, human dignity, and the sense of justice itself. She reiterated her commitment to ensuring justice is applied impartially and that human honor is upheld.

The incident has drawn sharp criticism, with İmamoğlu's statement highlighting concerns about the state of law and human rights. The controversy underscores ongoing political tensions and debates surrounding legal processes and the treatment of public figures in Turkey.