Istanbul’s jailed opposition mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, appeared in court in one of multiple cases against him, sparking nationwide protests. He has been held at Silivri Prison since his arrest on corruption charges. The current court case alleges he threatened a public prosecutor and is one of six cases predating his arrest. İmamoğlu addressed the judge, stating he was in court because he had won three elections against those who believe they own Istanbul, a reference to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The hearing was attended by his family, lawmakers from the Republican People’s Party, and media outlets. The case was adjourned until June 16, and İmamoğlu could face more than seven years in prison if convicted.
The mayor also faces allegations of targeting, threatening, and insulting individuals working in the fight against terrorism, stemming from comments he made criticizing Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek. İmamoğlu was initially detained in March in relation to corruption in the Istanbul municipality and allegations of terrorism links with pro-Kurdish politicians. Demonstrations calling for his release and an end to Turkey’s democratic backsliding under Erdoğan have led to the arrest of around 2,000 people for attending rallies banned by authorities. İmamoğlu was nominated as the CHP presidential candidate while in custody, with an election scheduled for 2028 but possibly sooner.
Despite the Turkish government’s insistence that the judiciary is independent and free from political influence, İmamoğlu’s imprisonment has been widely viewed as politically motivated. Two other courts in Istanbul were holding hearings on cases against İmamoğlu on the same day, including a bid-rigging case dating back to his time as mayor of Beylikdüzü district and an allegation of illegal donation collection based on a video from last year’s local elections showing CHP staff counting cash bundles. Erdoğan was heavily involved in backing his party’s candidates against İmamoğlu, who is the main opposition challenger to Erdoğan’s long rule. Despite the legal challenges and arrests of protesters, İmamoğlu’s supporters continue to gather in solidarity, urging for his release and an end to what they see as political persecution.
