Latest news with #EkremImamoglu
Arab News
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Turkiye should investigate ‘police violence' against protesters: Amnesty
ISTANBUL: Amnesty International called on Turkish authorities Thursday to launch an investigation into alleged 'police violence' during a wave of protests this year, saying some instances 'could amount to acts of torture.' The arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19, the leading opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, sparked Türkiye's worst street protests in over a decade. 'Our findings reveal damning evidence of unlawful force frequently used by law enforcement officers,' said Esther Major, a deputy director at the global human rights group. 'The authorities used tear gas, pepper spray, kinetic impact projectiles and water cannons against people who were simply exercising their rights,' she said in a statement. 'The violations documented constitute cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment and, in some cases, may amount to torture,' Major said, calling for the launch of an investigation. Imamoglu was widely seen as the biggest political rival to Erdogan and his jailing is likely to prevent him from running in the 2028 presidential election. Authorities said they arrested nearly 1,900 people during the protests, most of whom were accused of participating in illegal gatherings. The vast majority have since been released. Amnesty said it had 'verified dozens of videos documenting how protesters were beaten, kicked and dragged on the ground by law enforcement officials even when they were dispersing, not resisting or were already restrained.' The NGO said some 'protesters were subjected to water cannon, tear gas, kinetic impact projectiles by police, often at very close range directly targeting the head and upper body, in violation of international human rights law.' One of them required retinal surgery and may lose sight in one eye, Amnesty said.
Wall Street Journal
a day ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Turkish Central Bank Stands Pat on Rates Despite Easing Inflation
Turkey's central bank left its main interest rate unchanged Thursday, cementing an earlier move to lift rates after political tensions threatened to complicate efforts to bring rampant price inflation under control. The bank said it would leave its one-week repo rate at 46%, the level to which it was brought in April as a means to counter volatile swings in the Turkish lira that followed the dramatic arrest and imprisonment of a prominent opposition politician, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Istanbul mayor Imamoglu's trial adjourned as prosecutors seek jail, political ban ahead of 2028 Erdogan election challenge
ISTANBUL, June 16 — Istanbul's jailed mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the leading opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, appeared in court today on charges of threatening the city's public prosecutor. The case is one of a number of investigations targeting Imamoglu, but is not connected to the graft probe that led to his arrest in March, which sparked Turkiye's worst street protests in over a decade. Imamoglu, 54, is on trial over remarks he made, allegedly questioning the integrity of Istanbul's chief public prosecutor, Akin Gurlek. He faces charges of 'threatening' and 'insulting a public official' and 'targeting' an individual involved in counter-terror efforts, according to MLSA, the Turkish rights group whose lawyers are defending him. Today's hearing, which took place at Silivri prison on the western outskirts of Istanbul where Imamoglu has been held since March, was very brief with the judge adjourning the proceedings until July 16, MLSA said on X. The prosecutor called for Imamoglu to face up to seven years and four months behind bars, with a minimum jail term, and be subjected to a political ban, the BirGun online news site reported. It said CHP head Ozgur Ozel and other party members were also at the hearing to support the mayor. 'A state governed by the rule of law should be based on justice. No citizen should be afraid while seeking justice. A person should feel threatened not when they express their opinion but when they are forced to remain silent,' Imamoglu told the court in a transcript of his remarks published by BirGun. 'I am not the one on trial here today; every opposition stance that the government does not like, every democratic gain and the will of the people are being tried here today,' he said. 'Freedom of expression' A first hearing took place in Silivri on April 11 when the mayor denied all the allegations and said he had been 'targeted' because of his plans to challenge Erdogan in the 2028 presidential election, his remarks reported by Turkish media. Questioned by the prosecutor in January, he said he was simply exercising his right to free speech. 'There was no threat or targeting in my words. What I said was freedom of expression... (which) is a constitutional right... (that) includes the right to criticise judicial authorities and the way they function,' he said. Last Thursday, Imamoglu was also summoned to the first hearing in another case regarding remarks he made about a court-appointed expert witness involved in cases against municipalities run by his Republican People's Party (CHP), in which he is accused of attempting to influence a fair trial. His office said he and his legal team boycotted that hearing because it was 'unlawfully moved to Silivri' rather than taking place at a court in the city centre. Imamoglu, who was elected Istanbul mayor in 2019 and re-elected in 2024, was arrested on March 19 in connection with a graft probe and allegations of terror ties. The string of charges against him could prevent him taking part in the 2028 presidential race. His arrest sparked demonstrations across the country in the worst street unrest since the 2013 Gezi Park protests, which spread across Turkiye and were brutally suppressed by police. — AFP
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Istanbul mayor Imamoglu's trial adjourned as prosecutors seek jail, political ban ahead of 2028 election challenge
ISTANBUL, June 16 — Istanbul's jailed mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the leading opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, appeared in court today on charges of threatening the city's public prosecutor. The case is one of a number of investigations targeting Imamoglu, but is not connected to the graft probe that led to his arrest in March, which sparked Turkiye's worst street protests in over a decade. Imamoglu, 54, is on trial over remarks he made, allegedly questioning the integrity of Istanbul's chief public prosecutor, Akin Gurlek. He faces charges of 'threatening' and 'insulting a public official' and 'targeting' an individual involved in counter-terror efforts, according to MLSA, the Turkish rights group whose lawyers are defending him. Today's hearing, which took place at Silivri prison on the western outskirts of Istanbul where Imamoglu has been held since March, was very brief with the judge adjourning the proceedings until July 16, MLSA said on X. The prosecutor called for Imamoglu to face up to seven years and four months behind bars, with a minimum jail term, and be subjected to a political ban, the BirGun online news site reported. It said CHP head Ozgur Ozel and other party members were also at the hearing to support the mayor. 'A state governed by the rule of law should be based on justice. No citizen should be afraid while seeking justice. A person should feel threatened not when they express their opinion but when they are forced to remain silent,' Imamoglu told the court in a transcript of his remarks published by BirGun. 'I am not the one on trial here today; every opposition stance that the government does not like, every democratic gain and the will of the people are being tried here today,' he said. 'Freedom of expression' A first hearing took place in Silivri on April 11 when the mayor denied all the allegations and said he had been 'targeted' because of his plans to challenge Erdogan in the 2028 presidential election, his remarks reported by Turkish media. Questioned by the prosecutor in January, he said he was simply exercising his right to free speech. 'There was no threat or targeting in my words. What I said was freedom of expression... (which) is a constitutional right... (that) includes the right to criticise judicial authorities and the way they function,' he said. Last Thursday, Imamoglu was also summoned to the first hearing in another case regarding remarks he made about a court-appointed expert witness involved in cases against municipalities run by his Republican People's Party (CHP), in which he is accused of attempting to influence a fair trial. His office said he and his legal team boycotted that hearing because it was 'unlawfully moved to Silivri' rather than taking place at a court in the city centre. Imamoglu, who was elected Istanbul mayor in 2019 and re-elected in 2024, was arrested on March 19 in connection with a graft probe and allegations of terror ties. The string of charges against him could prevent him taking part in the 2028 presidential race. His arrest sparked demonstrations across the country in the worst street unrest since the 2013 Gezi Park protests, which spread across Turkiye and were brutally suppressed by police. — AFP
DW
4 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Jailed Istanbul mayor in court over prosecutor 'threat' – DW – 06/16/2025
Istanbul's jailed mayor has appeared in court charged with threatening the city's public prosecutor. Ekrem Imamoglu — the leading political rival to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — faces several investigations. Ekrem Imamoglu, the imprisoned mayor of Istanbul and leading rival to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, appeared in court Monday on charges of threatening and insulting a top judicial official. Prosecutors have charged the 54-year-old mayor with threatening, insulting, and targeting a public official — serious allegations in Turkey's increasingly politicized judiciary. What is the case against Imamoglu? The case centers on comments Imamoglu allegedly made about Istanbul's chief public prosecutor, Akin Gurlek, questioning his integrity. Imamoglu faces more than seven years in prison and a political ban for allegedly "targeting, threatening and insulting persons working in the fight against terrorism." Monday's hearing was held inside Istanbul's Silivri prison, where Imamoglu has been detained since late March after his arrest in a separate corruption investigation. That earlier case, which authorities claim involves financial misconduct, triggered Turkey's largest street protests in over a decade. Police arrested hundreds of people in response. The numerous cases could result in prison sentences and a political ban. When he took to the stand in April, Imamoglu denied all allegations and claimed he had been targeted because he plans to run against Erdogan in the 2028 presidential election, according to Turkish media at the time. Trial opens for nearly 200 detained during Istanbul protests To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video In a statement to the prosecutor in January, he argued that he had simply been exercising his right to free speech. He said there was no threat or targeting in his remarks and described his comments as protected under freedom of expression. What did Imamoglu tell the court? Speaking before the court, Imamoglu claimed he was subjected to "psychological torture," along with other arrested party members. "Today, all the opposition positions that displease the government and the will of tens of millions of people are being judged here," Imamoglu declared as he represented himself before a judge in an Istanbul court. As the trial was taking place, a crowd gathered outside the prison. "Turkey is proud of you," chanted Imamoglu's supporters. "There is no salvation alone: either all together, or no one," they added. While unrelated to the corruption probe, the current trial adds to a growing list of legal cases facing Imamoglu — seen by many as the most formidable challenger to Erdogan's rule. Rights groups and opposition parties have condemned Imamoglu's detention as politically motivated, accusing the government of using the courts to suppress dissent ahead of key national elections. Edited by: Zac Crellin
