Key opposition figures challenging Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have received 20-month prison sentences for allegedly humiliating and threatening city prosecutors.
Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, has been in detention since March 23 on unrelated corruption charges and plans to appeal his sentence.
This ruling occurs amid Erdogan’s ongoing crackdown on political adversaries, which has led to widespread protests across Turkey in recent months.
“I am battling against judicial abuse and its use as a political weapon,” Imamoglu told Halk TV and other Turkish media, adding that “this is truly a disgrace for our country.”
This is not the first time Imamoglu has faced legal issues, as he previously received a sentence for insulting a civil servant.
Moreover, he is also contesting a two-year, six-month sentence from 2022 linked to criticisms of election officials for their decision to annul the Istanbul election in March 2019. In the subsequent elections in June 2019, Imamoglu, representing the CHP party, won decisively against AK party’s Binali Yıldırım.
Imamoglu, considered a leading figure in opposition to Erdogan, continues to deny all charges. If his 2022 conviction stands, it could prevent him from running in future elections.
In a significant move, Istanbul University revoked Imamoglu’s diploma earlier this year.
The Erdogan government has refuted claims from the CHP party that the actions against the mayor are politically motivated attempts to eliminate electoral threats.
Over 200 individuals have faced trials and imprisonment, while around 500 have been detained as part of an investigation involving a municipality governed by Imamoglu’s CHP party.
“Hundreds of police officers have come to my door, affecting the homes of 16 million residents in Istanbul,” Imamoglu remarked in a social media video as he prepared for his arrest. “We are standing up against the giant bullies, but I won’t back down.”
