March 20, 2025, New York, NY—The American Jewish Congress strongly condemns what appears to be the politically motivated arrest of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of Istanbul. Mayor Imamoglu is widely recognized as a leading political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and his arrest just days before he was expected to be announced as the opposition’s candidate in the next presidential election raises undeniable concerns about this being a premeditated act of political repression. This egregious abuse of power defies the very democratic values Turkey’s leadership claims to uphold, and the Western world, particularly the United States, should take notice.
The American Jewish Congress firmly believes in the power of mayors and local leaders to drive positive change at the local level and to translate those results into national progress. For many decades, through our International Mayors Conference in Israel, we have built strong relationships with mayors from around the world, including Turkey. We vehemently condemn the unjust detention of a democratically elected leader on dubious accusations, an act that not only undermines the well-being and services of Istanbul’s citizens but also casts grave doubts on the democratic future of Turkey, a NATO member.
With this latest authoritarian move, the Erdogan regime is once again revealing its true nature. Instead of vilifying Israel and spewing antisemitic slanders, as he did this week by labeling Israel “a terror state that feeds on the blood, lives, and tears of the innocent,” Erdogan would do well to end his political repression at home and cease his shameless support for Hamas and other terrorist organizations throughout the Middle East.
Daniel Rosen, President
Jack Rosen, Chairman
Dr. Munr Kazmir, Vice President
Dr. Ben Chouake, Secretary
