Turkish Court Jails İstanbul Mayor İmamoğlu in Corruption Case
The length and terms of the sentence have not yet been disclosed, fueling speculation and concern across political circles and civil society.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a move that has sent shockwaves across Türkiye's political landscape, an Istanbul court has sentenced Ekrem İmamoğlu, the influential Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, to prison on charges of corruption and accepting bribes.
The verdict, issued early Sunday morning, comes at a time of unprecedented political tension and widespread protests.
According to court sources, İmamoğlu appeared before the Istanbul Criminal Court late Saturday night, where he was formally charged following an investigation by the public prosecutor. Despite his categorical denial of the accusations during the proceedings, the court ruled in favor of a prison sentence.
The length and terms of the sentence have not yet been disclosed, fueling speculation and concern across political circles and civil society.
The ruling follows a dramatic week in Turkish politics.
On Wednesday, March 19, Turkish security forces detained İmamoğlu in a large-scale operation involving over 3,000 officers, which also saw the arrest of 104 other individuals, including public officials, businesspeople, and figures close to the opposition. The charges against İmamoğlu included allegations of financial misconduct during his time in office and alleged collaboration with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., EU and Türkiye.
The verdict has deepened concerns over the rule of law and democratic processes in Türkiye. As reported earlier by The New York Times, critics of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan argue that the government is using the judiciary as a political weapon to suppress dissent and eliminate key opposition figures ahead of the upcoming presidential elections.
Ekrem İmamoğlu, who rose to prominence with a landmark victory in the 2019 Istanbul mayoral elections, was widely expected to be named the Republican People's Party (CHP)'s presidential candidate. Despite his detention and now conviction, the CHP has insisted on proceeding with its internal vote to designate him as their nominee, reflecting the party's defiance in the face of what it calls "politically motivated" persecution.
The court ruling has triggered immediate and widespread outrage. Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Istanbul and other major cities, demanding justice and transparency. Istanbul Governor Davud Gül responded by extending a previously imposed protest ban until March 27 and restricting travel in and out of the city.
President Erdoğan, speaking over the weekend, defended the judicial process and warned against what he described as "street terror" orchestrated by opposition parties. "We will not kneel to vandalism. Turkish municipalities will serve the people, not the corrupt," he declared.
Meanwhile, legal experts and rights advocates have voiced alarm over the implications of the court's decision. Arife Kose, a Turkish politics scholar at the University of East Anglia, told The New York Times (NYT) that arresting and imprisoning a presidential candidate suggests a sharp turn toward authoritarianism. "Türkiye has never been a perfect democracy, but this takes it to another level," she said.
During his tenure as mayor, İmamoğlu has faced dozens of judicial and administrative investigations. He has also been accused of insulting public officials and recently had his university diploma annulled—a move that could disqualify him from running for president, according to constitutional requirements.
Despite these mounting obstacles, İmamoğlu's popularity has remained resilient. Political observers view his sentencing not as a sign of weakness, but as evidence of his growing threat to the establishment.
"He made it clear to Erdoğan that the train is moving and he won't be able to stop it with normal means," Berk Esen, a political scientist at Sabanci University, was quoted by NYT. "This verdict is the government going for the jugular."
As protests swell and political tensions escalate, all eyes are now on how the CHP will respond in the coming days—and whether the ruling will galvanize further resistance or mark the beginning of a new, more repressive political era in Türkiye.