Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu calls court case against him ‘coup attempt’

Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu, a potential presidential candidate for the next general election, has submitted a third petition to the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice.

This legal challenge aims to overturn a case that could lead to a prison sentence and a political ban. Ekrem Imamoglu emphasized, “This case is not against me, but against the will of our beloved nation; it is a clear coup attempt.”

After the 2019 local elections, Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu was sentenced in December 2022 by a lower Turkish court to two years, seven months and 10 days in prison, along with a political ban. This decision has been appealed and is currently pending review at the Court of Cassation, where it remains in limbo.

Dispute between former Interior Minister Soylu and Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu

During the 2019 local elections, then-Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu referred to Ekrem Imamoglu as an “idiot.” In response, Imamoglu remarked, “Those who canceled the March 31 election are idiots.”

This led to a court case against Imamoglu for insulting officials of the Higher Election Council (YSK). Despite the legal challenge, Imamoglu, representing the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), won the second round of the election by a landslide. Soylu, however, faced no legal consequences for his initial comments.

In 2019, his votes would increase from 48.8% in March to 54% in June.

‘They could not find a way to maintain power’

Imamoglu intensified his criticism of the ongoing legal case against him, stating, “Unfortunately, they could not find any other way to maintain their power than to use every instrument, including the judiciary.”

He described the case as a “black stain on our political history,” undermining Türkiye’s democratic progress.

Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu invoked past political crises, including the Yassıada trials, the executions of Deniz and Mahir, the 1980 coup, the Feb. 28 process, and the July 15 coup attempt, emphasizing that the Turkish nation has always overcome such challenges by embracing democracy. He expressed confidence that “our beloved nation” will once again “break free from these traps set against its will”.

Despite the legal challenges, incumbent Imamoglu ran for reelection in the March 2024 local elections. He secured the term with limited obstacles.