A Turkish court sentenced Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu to jail on Sunday, despite widespread protests against his detention. İmamoğlu, who is considered the top political rival of President Tayyip Erdoğan, is facing serious allegations.
According to prosecutors, the mayor is accused of corruption and aiding a terrorist organization, with claims that he led a “criminal organization.” He is currently awaiting trial on these charges.
Authorities have also issued detention orders for nearly 100 individuals linked to İmamoğlu, including his press adviser, Murat Ongun, according to reports from local media Anadolu, cited by CNN.
İmamoğlu was first elected as mayor of Istanbul—Turkey’s largest city—in 2019 and was re-elected in 2024. He is also seen as the likely presidential candidate for the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). The party has denounced the charges as “politically motivated,” calling them “a coup attempt.”
Shortly before being jailed, İmamoğlu posted on X (formerly Twitter), declaring: “The walls of fear have been overcome, now there is a nation,” referring to a planned protest in Istanbul’s Sarachane Park on Saturday night.













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