Sevim Kahraman’s Book Chronicles Families of Detained Istanbul Officials

Following the March 19 police operation against Istanbul’s Metropolitan Municipality, the spouses and relatives of detained mayors and senior officials formed the Family Solidarity Network (Aile Dayanışma Ağı). In July 2026, journalist Sevim Kahraman published the book “Ada’nın Kırık Terazisi – Aile Dayanışma Ağı’nın Adalet Mücadelesi” to record the testimonies of these families and highlight their collective quest for justice.

The volume features interviews with the wives, daughters and parents of prominent figures such as Dilek Kaya İmamoğlu (wife of CHP presidential candidate and Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu), Seraf Özer (daughter and lawyer of former Esenyurt mayor Ahmet Özer), Tuba Torun Erdoğdu (wife and lawyer of ex‑CHP MP Aykut Erdoğdu), Filiz Kahveci Gökce (spouse of Istanbul Planning Agency chief Buğra Gökce), and Gözde Bahçetepe (wife of Gaziosmanpaşa mayor Hakan Bahçetepe). Kahraman herself is the spouse of detained journalist Merdan Yanardağ, linking her personally to the broader struggle.

The book, released by Kırmızı Kedi Publishing, extends beyond a collection of interviews, offering a rare, family‑centered perspective on Turkey’s recent political turbulence and the legal challenges faced by both incarcerated officials and their relatives.