Latest news with #Silivri
Malay Mail
5 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
5 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
Associated Press
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Istanbul mayor boycotts court hearing in one of many cases that could see him banned from politics
ISTANBUL (AP) — Istanbul's imprisoned opposition Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and his lawyers boycotted a court hearing Thursday, claiming a late change of venue was 'unlawful.' Thursday's case, which was over comments Imamoglu made over the prosecution of other officials from his Republican People's Party, or CHP, is one of numerous criminal allegations Imamoglu faces. The mayor was arrested in March alongside other prominent politicians as part of investigations into alleged corruption and terror links. His arrest triggered the largest street protests Turkey has seen in more than a decade. A conviction in any of the cases could see Imamoglu banned from holding or running for public office. Imamoglu is regarded as the main challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan 's 22-year rule and was officially nominated as his party's presidential candidate following his imprisonment. Turkey's next election is due in 2028 but could come sooner. In a statement, the CHP said neither Imamoglu nor his legal team would attend Thursday's hearing due to a change in venue through 'unlawful procedures.' Imamoglu, in a post from jail, described the hearing as 'irregular' and said it 'does not comply with the principles of the trial. I refuse to be a part of such a process and therefore I will not attend this hearing.' CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Ozgur Celik posted on X that the hearing had been moved from Caglayan courthouse in central Istanbul to Silivri prison 24 hours beforehand. Imamoglu is being held at the prison, west of Istanbul. Prosecutors have requested a prison sentence of two to four years and a political ban on charges of 'attempting to influence' an expert witness in the case. The hearing was adjourned to Sept. 26. Officials from CHP-controlled municipalities have faced waves of arrests this year. Many people in Turkey consider the cases to be politically driven, according to opinion polls. Erdogan's government insists the courts are impartial and free from political involvement.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Erdogan denies bid to change Turkey's constitution means he'll run for presidency again
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has denied he is trying to change the constitution so that he can stay on when his term ends in three years' has led Turkey for 22 years, first as prime minister from 2003 and then as its elected president since 2014. But he cannot run again unless the rules are changed or he calls early elections."We want the new constitution not for ourselves, but for our country. I have no interest in being re-elected or running for office again," he told reporters on yet Erdogan's recent remarks and actions have heightened speculation that he wants to remain president after his term ends in 2028. Last January he was asked by a singer if he was up for running for another term and he said, "I am, if you are." The next day his party's spokesman confirmed the issue was on their agenda: "What is important is that our nation wants it."While many Turks will be keen for Erdogan to continue as president, he is trailing in the opinion polls behind the opposition mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, who was arrested in March and remains in arrest on alleged corruption charges, which he denies, has been widely seen by his supporters as politically motivated and has sparked some of the biggest protests Turkey has seen in more than a suggest that support for the mayor has risen since he was detained in prison in Silivri, west of Istanbul. Authorities have succeeded in blocking his social media feed on X inside Turkey and they have continued to target his city administration, detaining at least 18 staff on suspicion of corruption in recent days, including the municipality's public relations chief Taner Cetin. Although Imamoglu's detention in jail has been widely criticised internationally, President Erdogan has largely escaped censure, with Western allies viewing him as a key Nato his comments to reporters on Wednesday, Erdogan said Turkey's constitution did not reflect the views of civilians as it was mainly written in the wake of a 1980 military coup, even though it has been amended."In such a rapidly changing world, is it possible to get anywhere with a constitution that was written under the conditions of a coup?" he current constitution only allows two five-year presidential terms. Erdogan is already on his third, but he argued his initial term took place before Turkey moved from parliamentary rule to presidential change required a constitutional referendum in 2017 that gave Erdogan sweeping powers, but still only allows two presidential obtain another referendum he needs the backing of 360 MPs in the 600-seat parliament, but can currently only rely on 321. With 400 votes he could change the constitution recent move to bring an end to more than four decades of conflict with the Kurdish militant PKK has been interpreted by some as a bid to attract Kurdish support for a new said on Wednesday that by laying down its arms the PKK would enable the pro-Kurdish DEM party to continue in politics "in a much stronger way".The DEM party has 56 MPs and, with their backing, Erdogan would have a far greater chance in parliament to change the deputy chairman of Ekrem Imamoglu's opposition CHP party, Ali Mahir Basarir, said Erdogan had no chance of running again because of a constitution that he had designed himself. Erdogan could also call early elections, but he wasn't allowing those either, Basarir said.
