Istanbul Mayor Faces Trial with Potential 2,352-Year Prison Sentence

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu faces a series of trials, including charges of establishing a criminal organization, with prosecutors seeking a sentence of up to 2,352 years amid widespread political unrest.

Legal Battles and Charges

The first of the trials against Imamoglu will continue at the Silivri prison, where the opposition politician has been held since March 2025. He is expected to present his defense regarding alleged irregularities in the management of Turkey’s largest metropolis. The newspaper “Cumhuriyet” reports that on the same day, Istanbul will host trials concerning “political espionage” and the validity of the politician’s university diploma.

A total of 414 defendants are being tried in the management case, 59 of whom are currently in detention. In a 3,900-page indictment, Imamoglu is accused of 142 offenses, most notably “establishing and leading a criminal organization.” Prosecutors are demanding prison sentences ranging from 828 to 2,352 years.

Political Espionage and Educational Credentials

In the espionage trial, Imamoglu is joined by journalist Merdan Yanardag, political advisor Necati Ozkan, and businessman Huseyin Gun. The defendants deny the charges, arguing that the indictment lacks concrete evidence and is politically motivated.

A third case concerns Imamoglu’s university diploma, which was revoked by Istanbul University before his arrest. The politician has appealed the decision to the Administrative Court. Under Turkish law, only individuals with higher education are eligible to run for president, and losing the diploma would disqualify him from the 2028 election.

Arrest and Public Unrest

Imamoglu was detained on March 19, 2025, over corruption allegations and supposed links to a terrorist organization. Following his testimony, the prosecution requested his arrest, which the court subsequently ordered. Despite his detention, he remains the official presidential candidate for the Republican People’s Party (CHP) for the 2028 elections, with Nuri Aslan currently serving as acting mayor.

The detention of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s primary political rival triggered the largest wave of protests in Turkey in over a decade, leading to mass arrests of CHP officials. While Imamoglu and his supporters denounce the actions as a political witch hunt, the Turkish government maintains that the judiciary operates independently and acts on solid evidence.