Ex-Mayor of Istanbul on Trial Amid Corruption Allegations
The former mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, has appeared in court as the principal defendant in a large-scale corruption trial that his opposition party and human rights organizations contend is politically motivated.
Imamoglu, aged 55, is confronted with over 140 charges, including corruption and leading a criminal organization. Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence that could extend up to 2,430 years.
Both Imamoglu and his Republican People's Party (CHP) reject all accusations, asserting that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his supporters have initiated a crackdown in response to Imamoglu's waning popularity.
Before the trial commenced on Monday, which began in a disorderly manner, Imamoglu was widely regarded as one of the few politicians capable of defeating Erdogan, who has dominated Turkish politics since 2003.
In addition to Imamoglu, 407 of his supporters are also on trial, accused of operating a criminal corruption network allegedly founded and led by the opposition figure, as described by prosecutors.
Upon entering the courtroom located in the Marmara prison on Monday, Imamoglu was welcomed by his supporters with cheers and whistles.
However, the proceedings were soon interrupted when the judge halted the session after Imamoglu challenged the decision to hear testimonies from other defendants before his own. The judge deemed this protest disrespectful and ordered a recess until the afternoon, only 15 minutes after the hearing had begun.
Present in the courtroom were Imamoglu's wife, Dilek, and CHP leader Ozgur Ozel.
Background and Arrest
Imamoglu was detained in March of the previous year on the very day he was announced as the CHP's presidential candidate for 2028. His arrest sparked the largest street protests in Turkey in over a decade, which were followed by numerous arrests and a police crackdown.
Beyond the corruption allegations, prosecutors have accused Imamoglu of various other offenses, including espionage and falsifying his university degree — a qualification required for presidential eligibility, which has since been annulled.
Turkish authorities deny claims that the judiciary is being exploited for political purposes.
International Criticism and Government Response
The trial has drawn strong criticism from human rights organizations.
"The trial of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu follows more than a year of weaponising the criminal justice system against his party and other CHP elected officials while he sits in jail," Benjamin Ward, deputy Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, stated last week.
"Looking at these cases as a whole, it's hard to avoid the conclusion that prosecutors are trying to remove Imamoglu from politics and discredit his party in ways that undermine democracy."
Amnesty International described the charges against Imamoglu as "absurd."
"This politically motivated prosecution, which is based almost entirely on secret witness testimony, is riddled with serious international fair trial and rule of law issues," Dinushika Dissanayake, Amnesty's deputy director for Europe, said on Friday.
The Turkish government maintains that the judiciary functions independently.
Justice Minister Akin Gurlek, who previously served as the chief prosecutor leading the investigation into Imamoglu, told reporters on Friday:
"I simply did my duty as a public prosecutor. My conscience is clear."
Political Significance
Imamoglu was first elected as mayor of Istanbul in 2019 and secured re-election in April 2024, defeating the ruling AK Party candidate by nearly one million votes.
His electoral victory was a significant blow to Erdogan and his party, with many political analysts in Turkey describing it as the president's "worst defeat ever."
