We begin with a cliché frequently heard in a negative context when discussing Turkey’s political and social developments: “This can’t be happening too!”
During the operation targeting Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, nearly 100 people—one of them Mahir Polat—were detained. Who is Mahir Polat? He is the deputy secretary general of the municipality and a close member of İmamoğlu’s core team. That much may be understandable. But Polat’s imprisonment triggered yet another “this can’t be happening” moment.
His lawyer requested his release, citing Polat’s heart and blood pressure conditions, several angioplasties, and the presence of stents in his heart. When Polat’s blood pressure spiked, he was taken to a hospital for an angioplasty instead of being released—and then returned to prison. The lawyer also noted that Polat is undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer and suffers from claustrophobia. Again, no one listened.
REVIVING THE CITY
Until his path crossed with İmamoğlu in 2005, Mahir Polat had been working as a foundation specialist at the General Directorate of Foundations. He describes himself as a “cultural historian.”
During his time working with İmamoğlu, he focused on uncovering Istanbul’s historical and cultural assets—many of which had long been forgotten. That’s why he often refers to his efforts as “saving the city from death” or “bringing Istanbul back to life.”
A DIFFERENT KIND OF POLITICS
Mahir Polat is not a politician—not because he couldn’t be, but because he chooses to position himself differently.
In interviews, he explains that he does not operate within the rigid divide between “government neighborhoods” and “opposition neighborhoods,” which he sees as symptoms of Turkey’s extreme polarization.
Through the institutions he managed at the municipality, he stepped into two areas long dominated by AKP municipalities. In other words, he entered the AKP’s playing field.
The first area was social aid. One of AKP’s main claims against the CHP has always been, “If they come to power, they will cut off the people’s social assistance.” Polat managed the municipality’s aid programs aimed at helping Istanbulites severely affected by the economic crisis.
The second area where Polat entered AKP territory was his core work: reviving historical monuments and artifacts. Previously, this field had been dominated by the AKP, partly due to its Ottoman-centric focus. But Polat established a Heritage Unit in the municipality and took initiative to revive and make visible these works in Istanbul—a city of civilizations.
FATİH CANDIDATE
Polat is not a full-time politiacian. His only direct political involvement was running as a mayoral candidate in Istanbul’s Fatih district in the 2024 elections.
Fatih is considered one of AKP’s strongholds and has been governed by conservatives for many years. Yet, one-third of Istanbul’s historical and cultural heritage is located in Fatih.
This clearly indicates that—with the approval of both the party and İmamoğlu—Polat personally chose to run in a place where winning would be extraordinarily difficult.
If İmamoğlu is elected president, Polat is very likely to hold a cabinet position. But to return to the central issue—his health problems in prison are serious. He is a guardian of the city, of its history, and of its culture. This must be taken into account. Let us protect him.
