Istanbul’s Chief Prosecutor has opened an investigation into Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu relating to comments made by the mayor regarding Istanbul Attorney General Akın Gürlek. The development follows last week’s arrest of Beşiktaş district mayor Rıza Akpolat, also a member of İmamoğlu’s opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
A statement from the chief prosecutor read:
“An investigation has been launched against Istanbul’s Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on the charges of threatening and targeting people on duty in the fight against terrorism. The mayor made threatening remarks towards Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek and his family in a program he joined today.”
The remarks in question took place at a ‘Modern Law and the Politicization of the Judiciary’ panel that İmamoğlu joined in which he criticized Istanbul Attorney General Akın Gürlek for ordering raids of suspects’ residences, which the mayor described as ‘intimidation’. İmamoğlu’s remarks specifically referenced the recent arrest of the head of the CHP’s youth wing, Cem Aydın. Aydın has since been released from detention on bail with a ban on international travel.
Following Rıza Akpolat’s arrest on corruption charges last week, İmamoğlu made a statement saying “We all know that I am your real target. So please, uphold your decision and leave our nation in peace.”
The mayor’s comments reference a years-running legal case that threatens to ban him from public office. In December 2022, İmamoğlu was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison and a political ban on charges of insulting members of Turkey’s Supreme Election Council. The mayor appealed the verdict, the final result of which is still pending.
String of detentions and arrests prior to İmamoğlu
Recent detentions and arrests of opposition Democratic Party (DEM) and Republican People’s Party (CHP) officials have intensified scrutiny on political tensions in Turkey. Last week, Beşiktaş district mayor Rıza Akpolat, a CHP member, was arrested on corruption charges.
- Co-Mayors from pro-Kurdish party detained and replaced in Mersin’s Akdeniz district
- Istanbul district mayor detained in corruption investigation
- Istanbul’s Esenyurt district mayor detained over alleged ties with terrorist group
Similarly, Ahmet Özer, the mayor of Istanbul’s Esenyurt district and also a CHP member, was detained on terrorism-related charges for alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Earlier today, Cem Aydın, head of the CHP’s youth wing, was also detained for making statements critical of Attorney General Akın Gürlek. He was later released on bail with an international travel ban.
Written/translated for Medyascope by Leo Kendrick
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