DEM Party Co-Chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan, along with Mehmet Rüştü Tiryaki, Deputy Co-Chair responsible for Democratic Local Governance, met with nine imprisoned politicians at Silivri Prison on Thursday.

The delegation met with Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Bekir Kaya, former Co-Mayor of Van, Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer, Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan, Can Atalay, TİP MP for Hatay, Ercüment Akdeniz, Halil Aksoy, Nesimi Aday, and Ahmet Saymadi.

Speaking to the press after the meetings, Tuncer Bakırhan emphasized that long detention and lack of fair trials are the biggest problems in prisons.

“All the prisoners we met, especially Mr. İmamoğlu, stated that they attached importance to the ongoing process and would do everything in their power to ensure its success,” said Bakırhan, adding that the political prisoners' approach gave them hope.

Bakırhan pointed out that political trials must come to an end, the judiciary must be impartial and independent, and trials must be held without detention. “We hope that we will experience a more democratic and peaceful process in the coming period. All of our friends were in good spirits and in good health. They said that the process was moving slowly, but they are ready to provide support,” he added.

Conveying the messages of İmamoğlu and other prisoners to the public, Tülay Hatimoğulları stated: “Mr. İmamoğlu said that the discussion of peace was the most promising thing amid the negative atmosphere created by the economic crisis and the wars in the region.

Hatimoğulları cited İmamoğlu as saying,“Discrimination does not befit Turkey. We must heal every place in the country where there is suffering,”. She stated that all those in prison felt hope and excitement for peace. İmamoğlu further said, “We are ready to work together for peace. This is a historic opportunity for Turkey, and we must seize it together.”

Tülay Hatimoğulları stated that one of the biggest complaints of the imprisoned politicians is the loss of judicial independence and politically motivated trials, saying, “The fact that these people are in prison because they were elected and engaged in politics on a democratic platform is an anti-democratic practice.”

She stressed that the DEM Party would continue its efforts to build a lasting peace that encompasses all segments of society, adding that the messages from imprisoned politicians were also in line with this goal.

The developments in the region were also discussed during the meetings, said Hatimoğulları, stressing that it was critically important for Turkey to establish internal peace in an environment fraught with dangers such as the Iran-Israel war.

“Establishing, consolidating, and enforcing peace in terms of Turkey's agenda and internal issues will make Turkey much stronger. A Turkey that has resolved the Kurdish issue will be a much stronger Turkey. A Turkey that has resolved its issues on the basis of equal citizenship rights and a democratic foundation will undoubtedly protect its 86 million citizens very strongly against dangers with a high probability of occurrence. This was one of the most fundamental messages of our talks,” the DEM Party Co-Chair concluded.