Ekrem İmamoğlu's book banned by Turkish court

A Turkish court has banned the publication and distribution of “Millet Şahidimdir” (The Nation is My Witness), a book written by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Following a request from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the Istanbul 4th Criminal Court of Peace ordered the seizure of all printed and currently being printed copies.

Imamoğlu had planned to print 22,000 copies for release on August 30. However, the printing process was halted and existing copies were confiscated. The book is described as a political manifesto and a defense of İmamoğlu's political views and governance vision, which includes calls for protecting the Constitution, increasing women's participation in high-level roles, and ensuring an independent judiciary.

In the text, İmamoğlu criticizes the government and the President, accusing the administration of abusing power and endangering democracy. He argues that the attempts to suppress the opposition are intended to make the current regime permanent, stating, “The ruling power knows very well: if fair elections are held, they will lose.”