İstanbul Mayor Visits HDP: 'Why is Demirtaş Arrested?'

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Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality has paid a visit to the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Provincial Chairpersonship in Tarlabaşı neighborhood, holding a closed-door meeting with HDP Provincial Co-Chairs Esengül Demir and Cengiz Çiçek.

After the meeting, the three leaders exchanged presents and spoke to reporters. İmamoğlu said that they desire to start an inclusive era without partisanship: "We view the voters of any party as citizens who need to be served a hundred percent."

"My belief is that there are people from all political views among those who voted for us. In this regard, I thanked people from every political view, people who voted for any party in the past.

"So, courtesy and support of our citizens who vote for the HDP and our friends who held duties in districts were very precious for us. I repeat my thanks to our citizens who support the HDP."

When asked about if he plans to visit Selahattin Demirtaş, the imprisoned former co-chair of the HDP who called the party's supporters to vote for him in the June 23 revote, İmamoğlu said, "I had thanked Mr. Demirtaş for his statements, the encouragement and support he gave before June 23."

"He is arrested but why? Like everyone, I want to understand this. In this context, I want to state that I side with anyone who is unjustly treated in terms of law," he added.

HDP İstanbul Co-Chair Demir thanked İmamoğlu, saying, "This was a very important visit in terms of being the first of its kind."

"Our people supported İmamoğlu against unlawfulness, unfairness. Mr. İmamoğlu shows that he aims an understanding of municipalism that includes all identities that live in İstanbul, that is based on the demands of the people and that commonizes services," she added. (AS/VK)