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On Friday, Istanbul’s imprisoned opposition mayor appeared in court amidst multiple legal challenges he faces. Outside Silivri prison, located west of Istanbul, hundreds of supporters gathered to express their solidarity during the hearing.
Ekrem Imamoglu has been detained at Silivri since March 23, facing accusations of threatening a public prosecutor. This case is one of six legal proceedings that predate his recent arrest, which instigated nationwide demonstrations.
During the hearing, Imamoglu addressed the judge by highlighting that his court appearance was the result of his victories over three elections against “the person who thinks he owns Istanbul,” referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who began his political career as the city’s mayor in the late 1990s.
The proceedings saw the attendance of Imamoglu’s family, including his wife and son, along with lawmakers from the Republican People’s Party (CHP). Reports indicate that the case has been postponed until June 16.
Imamoglu, a principal opponent to Erdogan’s extended rule and a candidate for the upcoming national elections, could face over seven years in prison and a political ban due to allegations of “targeting, threatening and insulting individuals engaged in anti-terrorism efforts.”
This charge originates from comments he made on January 20, criticizing Istanbul’s chief public prosecutor, Akin Gurlek, regarding criminal proceedings against other opposition members.
Allegations of Political Motivation
Imamoglu was arrested on March 19, linked to two separate investigations—one investigating alleged corruption within the Istanbul municipality and another concerning supposed terror associations tied to his party’s electoral agreement with pro-Kurdish politicians.
Public protests demanding his release and a cessation of Turkey’s democratic decline under Erdogan witnessed about 2,000 detentions of participants in demonstrations, which authorities deemed unlawful.
WATCH l Imamoglu supporters defy public gathering ban in protest of arrest (March 19):
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Following his arrest, conflicts broke out between Imamoglu’s supporters and riot police, as he faced accusations of corruption and collusion with terrorist organizations. As a notable political opponent of President Erdogan, Imamoglu has been positioned to participate in the next national election.
While in custody, Imamoglu was officially nominated as the CHP’s candidate for presidency. Although elections are scheduled for 2028, they may occur earlier, and many observers interpret his imprisonment as a politically charged maneuver, despite government claims of an independent judiciary in Turkey.
On the same day, two other courts in Istanbul were conducting separate hearings related to Imamoglu. One case involves alleged bid-rigging from a decade ago when he served as the mayor of Istanbul’s Beylikduzu district. The other centers around claims of illegal fund collection, stemming from a video that surfaced in the lead-up to last year’s local elections, which showed CHP staff handling cash bundles.
In 2019, following accusations of electoral impropriety from the ruling party, Imamoglu faced a repeat election for mayor after the first vote was annulled by Turkey’s electoral board. This decision spurred outrage among voters, leading Imamoglu to triumph in the second election.
Source
www.cbc.ca