In Turkey, a trial has begun against Ekrem İmamoğlu, the former mayor of Istanbul and a key opponent of President Erdoğan. According to the state news agency Anadolu, he faces more than 2000 years in prison. Court sessions will take place four times a week.
İmamoğlu has already received a number of charges, including creating and leading a "criminal organization," bribery, and laundering large sums of money. Human rights defenders and the opposition believe that this trial has a political background.
In this case, 407 people are also accused, of whom 105 are in custody. The main court hearing began on March 9, almost a year after İmamoğlu's detention. The judge assured that the sessions would take place from Monday to Thursday.
İmamoğlu's wife, Dilek, noted in an interview with dpa before the trial that Turkey is currently undergoing an important test regarding the rule of law. "We hope for a fair outcome, as we are confident in our righteousness," she said, adding that the most important thing for her is not only her husband's acquittal but also the restoration of public trust in justice.
Former Mayor of Istanbul Sentenced to Nearly Two Years for "Threats" to Prosecutor
On July 16, 2025, Ekrem İmamoğlu was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison for "public insult" and "threats" against Istanbul's chief prosecutor, Akın Gürlek. The investigation began after his criticism of the prosecutor, when he called his thinking "rotten" and promised to "eradicate" him from the "nation's consciousness." This occurred after the detention of Cem Aydın, the leader of the youth branch of the Republican People's Party (CHP), to which he belongs.
İmamoğlu rejects all charges, stating: "I am fighting against abuses in the judicial system and its use for political purposes. This is an insult to our people," as quoted by Halk TV.
In 2022, he also received a sentence of two years and seven months in prison for insulting members of the Supreme Electoral Council of Turkey (YSK) after opposing the annulment of the results of the 2019 Istanbul mayoral elections, in which he won. The appeal against this sentence has not yet been considered.
İmamoğlu's Arrest and Presidential Ambitions
İmamoğlu was detained on March 19, 2025, on suspicion of bribery and leading a criminal organization. It was also reported that he is suspected of supporting the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which is designated as a terrorist organization in Turkey.
On March 23, the court decided to arrest İmamoğlu, which led to his suspension from the position of mayor of Istanbul. In the presidential primary elections, İmamoğlu received support from 13.2 million voters—about 20% of the total number of registered voters in the country.
The arrest of the opposition politician sparked widespread protests across Turkey, the largest since 2013: about 220 demonstrations in his support took place within ten days after his arrest. The 54-year-old İmamoğlu is considered the main rival of Erdoğan in the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for 2028.
The record "Erdoğan's Main Rival Faces a Total of Over 2000 Years in Prison" first appeared on the K-News website.
