The case involving Istanbul's former mayor puts Turkey's judiciary under the spotlight

July 26, 2025

Istanbul's mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has been convicted and sentenced to one year and seven months in prison for allegedly insulting and threatening Istanbul's Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek. This conviction represents part of what rights groups describe as a systematic campaign against Turkey's opposition, particularly targeting the Republican People's Party (CHP) members ahead of the 2028 elections. İmamoğlu's legal troubles began with an investigation launched in January, followed by his detention in March just as he was positioned to become the CHP's presidential candidate.

Who is affected

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu
The Republican People's Party (CHP) and its officials, including at least 16 mayors suspended from office
Dozens of municipality staff who have been arrested or detained
Current CHP leader Özgür Özel and former chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu (through the internal party lawsuit)
Turkish citizens whose democratic representation is being undermined
Civil society groups and opposition voices facing crackdown

What action is being taken

The courts are prosecuting İmamoğlu and other opposition figures on various charges including insulting officials, corruption, and terrorism-related allegations
İmamoğlu is expected to appeal his recent conviction
The CHP has filed a complaint with the Council of Judges and Prosecutors against Prosecutor Gürlek and two other prosecutors
Authorities are conducting ongoing arrests and detentions of municipality staff, most recently on July 18 and 21
All 81 provincial chairpersons of the CHP have issued a joint statement refusing to recognize any court order that would nullify their party's leadership election

Why it matters

The case represents what rights groups call Turkey's ongoing erosion of judicial independence and democratic norms
The targeting of İmamoğlu, a prominent opposition figure, appears politically motivated ahead of the 2028 elections
The systematic campaign against CHP mayors and officials weakens opposition forces in Turkish politics
The judicial actions reflect an alarming trend in Turkey's democratic backsliding
The internal CHP lawsuit could trigger a leadership crisis within the main opposition party, further weakening resistance to government policies
The cases highlight the instrumentalization of Turkey's judiciary to sideline political rivals

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article, though İmamoğlu is expected to appeal his verdict.

Read full article from source: Global Voices