Latest news with #Imamoglu
New York Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Istanbul mayor, Erdogan's political rival, sentenced to 20 months for ‘insulting' prosecutor amid corruption probe
Turkey's top opposition leader to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was sentenced to 20 months in prison for allegedly insulting and threatening a city prosecutor. Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul's mayor, has been in custody since March 23 on unrelated corruption charges and is expected to appeal the decision. His sentencing this week comes at a time when Erdogan has cracked down on political adversaries, sparking widespread protests across Turkey in recent months. 3 The mayor of Istanbul, Turkey, Ekrem Imamoglu, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for allegedly making threats and insulting the city prosecutor. REUTERS 'I've been fighting against the abuse of the judiciary and against its use as a political tool,' Imamoglu told Halk TV and other Turkish media. 'This is indeed an insult against our nation.' His latest jailing marks the second time Imamoglu has been found guilty of insulting a public official. Imamoglu is also in the midst of appealing a 2022 sentence of two years and six months for criticizing election officials over a decision to annul the March 2019 Istanbul election. When a repeat election was held in June 2019, Imamoglu, the CHP Party candidate, won by a significant margin over Binali Yıldırım of the AK Party. 3 Imamoglu is seen as the country's top opposition leader to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. ERDEM SAHIN/EPA/Shutterstock The Istanbul mayor has denied all charges. However, if his 2022 conviction is upheld, it could disqualify him from future elections. In March, Istanbul University revoked Imamoglu's university diploma, which would render him ineligible to run for president. The Erdogan administration denied the CHP party's claim that the charges against the mayor and others are 'a politicized attempt by the government to remove electoral threats.' 3 The mayor has denied any wrongdoing, and his latest conviction was the second time he's been found guilty of insulting a public official. AFP via Getty Images More than 200 people have been jailed pending trial, while a total of 500 have been detained, in connection with investigations into municipalities run by Imamoglu's CHP party. 'Hundreds of police officers have been sent to the doors of my house, the house of the 16 million people of Istanbul,' Imamoglu said in a social media video as he prepared for his arrest. 'We are up against a huge bully, but I will not back down.' With Wires
Time of India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Turkey: Istanbul mayor Imamoglu hit with jail term
Turkey: Istanbul mayor Imamoglu hit with jail term (Image: AP) The mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, was on Wednesday handed a prison sentence for insulting a prosecutor, according to Turkish state media. Imamoglu, the main political rival to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has been in jail pending trial since March on separate corruption charges. He has now been sentenced to a year and eight months in prison for insulting and threatening Istanbul's chief prosecutor. Under Turkish law, prison terms of this length do not typically result in incarceration, but Imamoglu remains in pre-trial detention on other charges. Why has Imamoglu been handed another prison term? The case stems from remarks Imamoglu made after a raid on the home of a youth leader from his opposition republican people's party (CHP), when he said Istanbul's chief prosecutor, Akin Gürlek, had a "rotten" mind. Imamoglu denies the charges against him and told broadcaster Halk TV and other Turkish media: "I've been fighting against the abuse of the judiciary and against its use as a political tool. This is indeed an insult against our nation." It's not the first time that Imamoglu has been convicted of insulting public officials. In 2022, he was sentenced to two years and six months in jail for criticizing election board officials over a decision to cancel the 2019 Istanbul elections in which he defeated the candidate from President Erdogan's ruling justice and development party (AKP). Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Park Crescent at Alembic City, Vadodara – Luxury Homes from ₹2.20 Cr* Onwards Alembic City West Learn More Undo by Taboola by Taboola He has appealed that sentence but it has not yet been reviewed. If upheld, the conviction could prevent Imamoglu from participating in future elections. In March, Istanbul University annulled Imamoglu's university diploma, without which he cannot stand as a candidate for president. Since his arrest on March 19, Turkish opposition figures have come under increasing pressure, with dozens of CHP mayors dismissed or detained on allegations of corruption. The CHP denies corruption allegations and calls them a government attempt to remove electoral threats against Erdogan, a charge the government rejects.
The Hindu
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu, Erdogan rival, gets jail term for ‘threatening' prosecutor
Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Turkiye's leading opposition figure, got a 20-month prison sentence for insulting and threatening the city's public prosecutor on Wednesday (July 16, 2025), according to a court document obtained by AFP. The case is one of a number lined up against Mr. Imamoglu, the main rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is already being held over an investigation into alleged corruption. His arrest in March as part of that case triggered Turkiye's worst street protests in more than a decade. Wednesday's (July 16, 2025) hearing was held at Silivri court and prison complex on the western outskirts of Istanbul, where Mr. Imamoglu has been held since his arrest. The court handed him a jail term of one year, five months and 15 days for having insulted a civil servant and two months and 15 days for threats, the court document showed. Mr. Imamoglu, who appeared in court, has denied all the allegations, arguing that he was being targeted because of his plans to challenge Erdogan in the 2028 presidential elections. The prosecutor had initially called for Mr. Imamoglu to face up to seven years and four months behind bars, and to be banned from holding political office. On Wednesday (July 16, 2025), that ban — which is handed down when the suspect gets a minimum two-year jail term — was not applied. Mr. Imamoglu was elected Istanbul Mayor in 2019 and re-elected in 2024. He was arrested on March 19 in connection with a graft probe and allegations of terror ties. The string of charges against him could prevent him taking part in the next presidential race. His arrest sparked demonstrations across the country in the worst street unrest since the 2013 Gezi Park protests, which spread across Turkiye and were brutally suppressed by police.
Russia Today
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Erdogan's chief political rival jailed in Türkiye
Ekrem Imamoglu, the former mayor of Istanbul and a key rival to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for insulting a public prosecutor, according to local media reports. The case stems from remarks Imamoglu allegedly made after police raided the home of a youth leader from his opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). The politician reportedly responded by saying that Istanbul's chief prosecutor, Akin Gurlek, had a 'rotten' mind. The verdict was handed down on Wednesday at the high-security Silivri court and prison complex near Istanbul, which often hosts politically sensitive trials. Imamoglu was acquitted of a separate charge of targeting officials involved in counterterrorism operations. The 55-year-old former mayor has been in custody since March, awaiting trial on unrelated corruption charges. He has denied all allegations, claiming the cases are politically motivated and intended to derail his potential bid to challenge Erdogan in the 2028 presidential election. The government insists the judiciary is independent and denies any political interference. Imamoglu was first elected mayor of Istanbul in 2019 and re-elected in 2024. His arrest on March 19, which resulted in his temporary suspension from office, sparked mass unrest across Türkiye. Demonstrators clashed with riot police in multiple cities, including Istanbul and Ankara. Erdogan blamed the opposition for fueling the unrest and accused them of damaging the country's economy. Prosecutors had initially sought a sentence of more than seven years and a ban on Imamoglu holding public office. However, the final sentence fell short of the two-year threshold required to impose such a ban. This is not the first time Imamoglu has faced legal trouble over his remarks. In 2022, he was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for criticizing election board officials who annulled his 2019 mayoral victory. That verdict is currently under appeal. If upheld, it could prevent him from participating in future elections. In March, Istanbul University annulled Imamoglu's diploma, effectively barring him from running for president.
DW
16-07-2025
- Politics
- DW
Turkey: Istanbul mayor Imamoglu hit with jail term – DW – 07/16/2025
Turkish opposition figure Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, is already in pre-trial detention on separate charges, but has now been hit with a prison sentence for insulting Istanbul's chief prosecutor. The mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, was on Wednesday handed a prison sentence for insulting a prosecutor, according to Turkish state media. Imamoglu, the main political rival to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has been in jail pending trial since March on separate corruption charges. He has now been sentenced to a year and eight months in prison for insulting and threatening Istanbul's chief prosecutor. Under Turkish law, prison terms of this length do not typically result in incarceration, but Imamoglu remains in pre-trial detention on other charges. The case stems from remarks Imamoglu made after a raid on the home of a youth leader from his opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), when he said Istanbul's chief prosecutor, Akin Gürlek, had a "rotten" mind. Imamoglu denies the charges against him and told broadcaster Halk TV and other Turkish media: "I've been fighting against the abuse of the judiciary and against its use as a political tool. This is indeed an insult against our nation." It's not the first time that Imamoglu has been convicted of insulting public officials. In 2022, he was sentenced to two years and six months in jail for criticizing election board officials over a decision to cancel the 2019 Istanbul elections in which he defeated the candidate from President Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). He has appealed that sentence but it has not yet been reviewed. If upheld, the conviction could prevent Imamoglu from participating in future elections. In March, Istanbul University annulled Imamoglu's university diploma, without which he cannot stand as a candidate for president. Since his arrest on March 19, Turkish opposition figures have come under increasing pressure, with dozens of CHP mayors dismissed or detained on allegations of corruption. The CHP denies corruption allegations and calls them a government attempt to remove electoral threats against Erdogan, a charge the government rejects. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
