‘It is a scandal’: İstanbul Mayor İmamoğlu not invited to COVID-19 meeting

* Photo: Twitter / Fahrettin Koca

Click to read the article in Turkish

It has sparked a debate that İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was not invited to the COVID-19 meeting in İstanbul yesterday (October 22).

In a statement on Twitter, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said that they discussed the course of the pandemic and decided on the measures to take with İstanbul Governor, Provincial Security Director, vice ministers, provincial health director, field coordinators and chief physicians.

Minister Koca also announced that while 40 percent of all novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases were in İstanbul, the number of cases in the city was five times higher than the capital city of Ankara.

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As it has been understood that main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was not invited to the meeting, it has been severely criticized, especially by the CHP.

As reported by Gözde Yel from T24 news website, İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İMM) sources have said that Ekrem İmamoğlu did not even know that such a meeting would take place in the city. İmamoğlu reportedly learned about it when he saw the tweet of Health Minister Koca.

CHP: It is a scandal

In a statement released on the Twitter account of the CHP, the party has denounced the failure to invite the city's mayor to the meeting:

"While it is announced that the number of cases in İstanbul has hit 40 percent of all cases across Turkey, our İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is not invited to the meeting about the measures to take, which is a scandal. It proves that they cannot manage the pandemic, just as they cannot rule the country.

"The government of the palace cannot take revenge on İstanbulites for its defeat in İstanbul elections. There is nothing more important than the health of our people. The conceited rulers of the palace and Fahrettin Koca, who has tarnished his name with this mistake, must immediately step back from their mistake of politicizing healthcare."

CHP İstanbul Chair Kaftancıoğlu has also shared a message about the issue on Twitter. "It has been once again confirmed that those who sit around the table are not concerned about the health of İstanbulites, but their own political existence," Kaftancıoğlu has protested and briefly added:

"While you continue with your dirty politics, Ekrem İmamoğlu and our mayors will continue to work for the health of our citizens in spite of you."

Masa etrafında oturanların derdinin İstanbullunun sağlığı değil kendi siyasi varlıkları olduğu bir kez daha tescil edilmiş oldu.
Sizler kirli siyasetinizi devam ettirirken, size rağmen @ekrem_imamoglu ve belediye başkanlarımız vatandaşın sağlığı için çalışmaya devam edecekler https://t.co/fQnmkogmQw

— Canan Kaftancıoğlu (@Canan_Kaftanci) October 22, 2020

In addition to politicians, several citizens, among whom are also journalists and writers, have denounced the incident as well.

In a comment under Minister Koca's tweet, writer Ahmet Ümit has said, "Mr. President, what is your reason for not inviting İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu to such a critical meeting as this?"

İSTANBUL Valisi Sn. Ali Yerlikaya, İl Emniyet Müdürü Sn. Zafer Aktaş, bakan yardımcılarımız, il sağlık müdürümüz, saha koordinatörlerimiz ve başhekimlerimizle birlikte, salgının İstanbul’daki seyrini masaya yatırdık. Devam eden artışa karşı alınacak tedbirleri kararlaştırdık. pic.twitter.com/cygH788oMe

— Dr. Fahrettin Koca (@drfahrettinkoca) October 22, 2020

Journalist Timur Soykan has also said, "This mindset which makes political calculations before considering people's health is deadly. Our lives are entrusted to such an attitude of mind that does not invite İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor to such a meeting."

İnsanların sağlığından önce siyasi hesap yapan bu zihniyet ölümcüldür. İstanbul Belediye Başkanı'nı böyle bir toplantıya çağırmayan kafa yapısına canımız emanet. https://t.co/sUDqn10cnE

— timursoykan (@timursoykan) October 22, 2020

(EKN/SD)