Ekrem İmamoğlu, the opposition’s Presidential candidate and recently jailed mayor of Istanbul, has appeared in court today (11 April) in a politically charged case that critics say exemplifies growing government pressure on dissent in Turkey. The trial is taking place at Silivri Prison, a sprawling high-security facility west of Istanbul known for holding political prisoners and high-profile defendants.

The case centers on remarks İmamoğlu made about Akın Gürlek, Istanbul’s Chief Public Prosecutor, during a public panel discussion earlier this year. Gürlek, a figure closely associated with Turkey’s ruling party, is now listed as the complainant in the indictment, which seeks a prison sentence of up to 7 years and 4 months for İmamoğlu. The charges include “targeting individuals involved in counter-terrorism efforts”—a broad and often-criticized clause in Turkish law that critics say is frequently used to stifle political criticism.

Ekrem İmamoğlu is a prominent member of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Turkey’s main opposition party, and was seen as a rising star in national politics. He first rose to fame after winning the 2019 Istanbul mayoral election, defeating the candidate of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). That victory, later annulled and rerun under contentious circumstances, ended in an even larger win for İmamoğlu and was widely interpreted as a blow to Erdoğan’s political dominance.

Standing before the court, Imamoğlu questioned the legitimacy of the charges and drew attention to his democratic mandate: “I am someone who has won the support of 16 million Istanbulites—not once, but three times. I represent their will. Why am I being tried for that?”

He linked his prosecution to broader political calculations, suggesting that his popularity made him a threat to the ruling party. “I’m here because those in power fear that whoever wins Istanbul also wins Turkey,” he said.

The hearing took place in Silivri Prison, in a courtroom complex that once hosted the infamous Ergenekon trials—a series of prosecutions in the late 2000s and early 2010s, now widely viewed as politically motivated attempts to silence military and secularist opponents of the government. Imamoğlu referenced this history in his remarks: “These courtrooms have not left a good legacy in the name of justice.”

Imamoğlu challenged the basis of the case, suggesting it was initiated without proper legal scrutiny and may have relied on manipulated transcripts. He called into question whether the prosecutor had even reviewed his full remarks, asking the court whether a WhatsApp screenshot was the foundation........

© Medyascope