Travelers Bovenschulte and Onay head to Istanbul - Bovenschulte and Onay Planning Trip to Istanbul
In the wake of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's arrest, multiple German municipalities want to demonstrate their solidarity. twin-city rulers Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD) from Bremen and Belit Onay (Greens) of Hannover plan to attend a joint German Towns Association and Turkish Municipalities Union meeting in Istanbul on Tuesday.
The conference focuses on promoting international cooperation, initially with Imamoglu as the host. Before departing, Bovenschulte stated, "During challenging times, it's crucial to deliver a resounding message in favor of municipal democracy, showing our support for beleaguered mayors."
Turkey at Boiling Point
Imamoglu's dismissal and arrest in March have led to Turkey's most significant political crisis in years. A massive wave of protests followed, with hundreds of thousands demanding democracy and the rule of law.
Imamoglu faces accusations of corruption and supporting the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). However, he disputes these allegations, claiming the government's actions are politically-motivated attempts to eliminate a formidable rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
- Ekrem Imamoglu
- Istanbul
- Solidarity
- Andreas Bovenschulte
- Belit Onay
- Hannover
- Bremen
- Arrest
- Crisis
- Turkey
- Germany
- Democracy
- SPD
- German Towns Association
Behind-the-Scenes Support
The solidarity shown by German municipalities towards Imamoglu is robust, as demonstrated by several key developments:
- Leading Cities Speak Out:
- Berlin: Mayor Kai Wegner has voiced deep worry over Imamoglu's arrest, rejecting a planned trip to Istanbul as a show of solidarity. Berlin stands firm on upholding democratic principles and defending free elections[1][3].
- Cologne: Mayor Henriette Reker visited Istanbul in April for the Turkey-Germany Sister Cities Summit, expressing solidarity with Imamoglu. She urged the Turkish government to respect Imamoglu's democratic rights and seek a fair judgment[1][2].
- Frankfurt and Wiesbaden: These cities have publicly supported Imamoglu, advocating for democracy and the rule of law[1].
- Support from Other German Mayors:
- Mannheim: Mayor Christian Specht has expressed concern over the arrest, emphasizing its potential impact on Turkey's democratic order and advocating for respect for local self-government[1].
- Hanover: Belit Onay (Greens) has expressed her sadness over Imamoglu's absence and highlighted the importance of upholding local government elections[2].
- Additional Insights:
- There's limited information available on Andreas Bovenschulte's (SPD) involvement in solidarity efforts for Ekrem Imamoglu[2].
In summary, Turkish Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's arrest has triggered widespread outrage, with German cities expressing solidarity and advocating for upholding democratic values. Support comes from multiple cities like Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, and Hanover, with each voicing their concerns and emphasizing the need for transparency and fairness in the trial of Imamoglu.
- Andrei Bovenschulte and Belit Onay, representatives from German cities Bremen and Hannover respectively, will attend a joint meeting in Istanbul to demonstrate solidarity with Ekrem Imamoglu, who was arrested and dismissed as mayor of Istanbul.
- In response to Imamoglu's arrest, several German mayors have voiced their concerns and have staunchly supported him, advocating for the upholding of democratic principles, free elections, and local self-government.
- The solidarity shown by German municipalities, particularly in relation to the challenging political situation in Turkey, aims to deliver a strong message in favor of municipal democracy and demonstrate their support for embattled mayors like Ekrem Imamoglu.
