Yesterday, the fourth Strasbourg Justice Meeting brought together thousands of voices from across Europe to advocate for justice, human rights, and the rule of law in Turkey. Although Eurocities President and Ghent Mayor Matthias De Clercq could not attend the June 25 demonstration in Strasbourg due to prior commitments, he has voiced profound concern over the human rights situation in Turkey. Joined by a coalition of European mayors, De Clercq has called for the immediate release of unjustly detained individuals, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, whose imprisonment has become a symbol of the country’s democratic backslide. A Collective Demand for Change The Strasbourg Justice Meeting, supported by over 20 organizations from various European nations, underscored the urgency of addressing Turkey’s unlawful detentions and the need to uphold European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings. Amidst this powerful gathering, European mayors united to send a clear message: democracy must be restored, and those unfairly targeted must be freed. To amplify this call, President De Clercq and fellow mayors have prepared a video message that emphasizes the importance of democratic values and expresses solidarity with those unjustly detained in Turkey. This video, which we are now sharing as part of our broader call for justice, features prominent municipal leaders from across Europe standing shoulder to shoulder in support of their Turkish counterparts. Voices of Solidarity The mayors’ video includes heartfelt statements from leaders of major European cities, each reinforcing the demand for Turkey’s return to democracy and the release of political prisoners like Mayor İmamoğlu. Here are a few highlights: Matthias De Clercq, Mayor of Ghent and Eurocities President: "The erosion of democracy in Turkey is a concern for us all. We demand the immediate release of Mayor İmamoğlu and others unjustly detained." Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris: "Injustice anywhere threatens justice everywhere. Paris stands with the people of Turkey." Jeanne Barseghian, Mayor of Strasbourg: "As a city committed to human rights, Strasbourg will not remain silent in the face of these violations." These personal commitments reflect a shared resolve to confront the challenges facing Turkey and to support its citizens in their pursuit of freedom and fairness. The Video: A Symbol of Unity The video message features an impressive lineup of Eurocities members, including mayors from Rome, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Athens, and beyond. Together, they call for an end to the persecution of municipal leaders and citizens alike, offering a beacon of hope to those fighting for justice. The action taken at the Strasbourg Justice Meeting was not limited to those present—it was also broadcast live, reaching thousands who couldn’t attend and amplifying the global call for justice. You can watch the full live stream youtube.com/live/YaTDvm32TXE… . A standout moment in the broadcast is the mayors’ support messages, which were shared with participants to underscore their solidarity. These powerful statements can be viewed starting at the mark—don’t miss this inspiring display of unity! The full list of participating mayors is as follows: Matthias De Clercq – Mayor of Ghent Anne Hidalgo – Mayor of Paris Jeanne Barseghian – Mayor of Strasbourg Roberto Gualtieri – Mayor of Rome Dominic Fritz – Mayor of Timișoara Femke Halsema – Mayor of Amsterdam Juhana Vartiainen – Mayor of Helsinki Sara Funaro – Mayor of Florence Haris Doukas – Mayor of Athens Eirik Lae Solberg – Mayor of Oslo Jaume Collboni – Mayor of Barcelona Minna Arve – Mayor of Turku Tomislav Tomašević – Mayor of Zagreb Ricardo Rio – Mayor of Braga Mike Josef – Mayor of Frankfurt Eileen O’Sullivan – Deputy Mayor of Frankfurt Jevgeni Ossinovski – Mayor of Tallinn A Global Call to Action The message from Strasbourg is unmistakable: solidarity transcends borders. By joining forces, these mayors are not only supporting their detained colleagues but also inspiring a global movement for human rights and democracy. As we share their video today, we invite you to stand with us—because the fight for justice in Turkey is a fight for justice everywhere. We encourage you to watch and share this video, as it stands as a testament to the power of unity and the global demand for justice. #StrasbourgMeetingForJustice @EUROCITIES @Anne_Hidalgo @DominicFritzTM @ekrem_imamoglu @FemkeHalsemaa @h_doukas @jaumecollboni @JeanneBarsegh @filsdeproust @MathiasDeClercq @MikeJosef_FFM @minnaarve @gualtierieurope @sarafunaro @ttomasevichr @CHP_istanbulil