Turkish opposition leader Imamogl faces charges of the prosecutor and a possible prohibition of political activity.
Istanbul’s mayor of Ekre Imamoglu appeared on Monday briefly in court in the case of insult to the Chief Istanbul Prosecutor Akin Gürlek. The judge adjourned the hearing for 16 July. Informed AFP, writes TASR.
Imamoglu (54) is in custody and faces several investigations. Monday hearing is not related to the accusation of corruption for which he was taken by the authorities on March 19, which caused massive protests. Imamoglu refuses all allegations. His detention is perceived as politically motivated in order to wean him as Erdogan’s main political rival.
Accusations of insult to the prosecutor
The trial was to start on Monday because of his statements, which allegedly questioned the integrity of the prosecutor Gürlek. According to the Turkish group to protect the rights of MLSA whose lawyers advocate him, he is at risk of allegations of “threatening” and “insults to a public official” and a “attack on” a person involved in anti -terrorist measures.
According to AFP, the prosecutor asked for Imamogl for at least seven years and four months and a ban on political activity. In January, Mayor of Istanbul defended his statements, claiming that he used the right to freedom of expression and denied that there was any threat in his words.
The statement of the mayor of Istanbul
“One should not feel endangered when he expresses his opinion, but when he is forced to remain silent. It is not me who is today judged;
Imamoglu is a member of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and his prosecution has met with sharp criticism of the opposition, human rights organizations and international observers who accuse President Recep Erdogan’s President Recep Erdogan’s reign of the abuse of justice to shut down political rivals.
As a result of criminal prosecution, the University of Istanbul has taken him an academic degree without which he cannot stand in the presidential election. These will be held in 2028.
