By Our Correspondent
The former mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, is set to face a high-profile corruption trial, drawing international attention and criticism from rights groups.
The 55-year-old politician, a leading figure in Turkey’s Republican People’s Party (CHP), faces more than 140 charges including corruption and operating a criminal organization, with prosecutors seeking a staggering 2,430-year prison sentence.
Imamoglu and his party strongly deny the allegations, calling the case politically motivated and accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of targeting opposition leaders amid declining popularity.
His arrest in March 2025, on the day he was named CHP leader and presidential candidate for 2028, triggered Turkey’s largest street protests in over a decade, resulting in hundreds of arrests and a police crackdown.
Ahead of the trial, Imamoglu urged Erdogan to call early elections, signaling his defiance from detention at the Marmara prison complex, where the proceedings are scheduled to begin Monday.
In addition to Imamoglu, 407 supporters face charges, accused of participating in a corruption network allegedly led by the former mayor.
Prosecutors have also accused Imamoglu of espionage and forging a university degree—a requirement for presidential eligibility—which has since been annulled.
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have condemned the trial as politically driven, highlighting secret witness testimony and serious concerns over fair trial standards.
“It is clear prosecutors aim to remove Imamoglu from politics and discredit the CHP,” said Benjamin Ward of Human Rights Watch.
Despite these criticisms, Turkish authorities insist the judiciary operates independently. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek, the former chief prosecutor who oversaw Imamoglu’s investigation, stated: “I simply did my duty as a public prosecutor. My conscience is clear.”
Imamoglu first rose to prominence after his 2019 election as Istanbul mayor, followed by a re-election in April 2024, defeating the AK Party candidate by nearly a million votes—a loss often described as Erdogan’s “worst political defeat.”
The trial’s outcome could significantly reshape Turkey’s political landscape ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
