İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on ‘Devran’: I Wish Men Talk Less About This Issue

* Photos: IMM Press

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İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu visited the district of Sultanbeyli today (January 14). Addressing the questions of reporters after his visit, İmamoğlu also referred to the recent debates on the theater play adapted from "Devran", the second short story book penned by Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) imprisoned former Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş.

Adapted for the stage by artist Jülide Kural, Demirtaş's "Devran" made its debut in İstanbul on January 11. The play was watched by several people including main opposition Republican Peoples' Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's wife Selvi Kılıçdaroğlu, CHP İstanbul Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu and Ekrem İmamoğlu's wife Dilek İmamoğlu.

After premiere of the play was reported in the press, Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu made targeting remarks about the audience.

İstanbul Mayor İmamoğlu briefly stated the following about the issue:

Sale of Selahattin Demirtaş's books by the Istanbul Bookstore

"It makes us sad that it is discussed like that. Years ago, the issue of books was criticized differently. It was defined as 'as effective as a bomb'. After this incident, the ones who made this definition plotted the July 15 [coup attempt].

"I think that those who uttered such remarks have regreted doing so. You might need to ask, the prime minister of the time made such a statement. The book of Mr. Demirtaş is sold everywhere.

"State institutions are also included in that. Go to the website of the [state post office] PTT, it is there. Go to the website of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), it is there as well. Bookstores very close to the government also have the book, just like other bookstores. They can sell it. They should indeed do so. Besides, it is the courts and prosecutor's offices of this country that will decide whether a book is banned or not.

Adaptation of 'Devran' to the stage

"My wife is a well-educated Turkish woman who has graduated from university, who has completed her MA and PhD studies. My wife knows where to go. She is a Turkish woman who interprets Turkey, who can interpret the world and who knows where to go accordingly. I think, it is the case for not only my wife, but also other women who went there. It is indeed the case. Women watched a play adapted from a book and contribute to the process, which I consider to be quite a mature attitude. I support it, too.

"They, especially my wife, do not have to ask me about it. I have always expressed this call for statesmanship. The remarks uttered, the definitions and descriptions made are so bad that... I follow it with sadness.

"I wish that 10-15 more women will also do what these women did. Maybe, a different atmosphere will be created in this country by women. Maybe, an environment of peace and quiet can arise in this country. I wish that we could do it. I wish that the mouths of men talk less about this issue.

"I spoke the same language while paying visits in the field. In Trabzon, Diyarbakır, İstanbul... I am also in office now and talk about the same things. They cannot fit us into a frame of valor, we do not fit in there. They can have it as they wish." (EMK/SD)