|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
On July 16, 2025, a Turkish court sentenced Ekrem İmamoğlu, Istanbul’s mayor and a leading opposition figure, to one year and eight months in prison for insulting and threatening the city’s chief prosecutor. The ruling follows his March 19 arrest, which occurred just one day before he was expected to announce his candidacy for the 2028 presidential election.
The charges stem from remarks İmamoğlu made in January criticizing Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek, whom he accused of targeting opposition figures. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of up to seven years and a political ban, but the court did not impose disqualification, as Turkish law requires a minimum two-year sentence for such action.
İmamoğlu has denied all allegations and is expected to appeal the verdict. He remains in custody at the Silivri prison complex, where he is also facing separate charges related to corruption and alleged ties to terrorism. His arrest sparked nationwide protests, marking the largest public unrest in Turkey since the 2013 Gezi Park demonstrations.
The conviction adds to a series of legal challenges İmamoğlu has faced, including a 2022 sentence of two years and six months for criticizing election officials after the annulment of his 2019 mayoral victory. That case also remains under appeal.
İmamoğlu’s supporters and international observers have condemned the legal actions as politically motivated, warning that they could undermine democratic processes ahead of the next presidential election. Despite the charges, İmamoğlu continues to be viewed as President Erdoğan’s most formidable rival.
