Istanbul – February 5, 2025 – Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is facing a prison sentence of up to seven years and a possible political ban following an indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. The charges stem from remarks İmamoğlu made about Chief Prosecutor Akın Gürlek during a panel discussion. The indictment accuses İmamoğlu of “targeting individuals involved in counterterrorism,” “insult,” and “threats.”
The 15-day investigation resulted in an indictment requesting a sentence of 2 years and 8 months to 7 years and 4 months. The case has been referred to a high criminal court, where judges are currently reviewing the charges.
Prosecutors Cite Threats Against Judiciary
The indictment, prepared by the Terror Crimes Investigation Bureau, lists Gürlek as the “victim.” It alleges that İmamoğlu’s statements were found to contain criminal elements, prompting an ex officio investigation. Prosecutors argue that İmamoğlu’s comments publicly humiliated Gürlek and exceeded the bounds of free speech.
According to the document, Gürlek has been previously targeted by terrorist organizations, with his identity and photographs shared on social media and media platforms. Prosecutors claim that İmamoğlu’s remarks contributed to this targeting and amounted to “a crime of making threats.” The indictment further alleges that İmamoğlu’s speech contained statements implying potential harm to Gürlek and his family, making it “objectively suitable and sufficient to instill fear in the victim.”
Political Ban Request
The indictment also references a separate incident from January 27, in which İmamoğlu allegedly misrepresented a court-appointed expert witness. Prosecutors claim he presented a single expert as the sole authority in an attempt to influence the outcome of an ongoing case. They argue that İmamoğlu used his platform to exert pressure on judicial bodies to benefit his political party.
When considered together, prosecutors assert that İmamoğlu “deliberately used his position and public influence to apply pressure on judicial institutions.”
The indictment requests a prison sentence for İmamoğlu on charges of:
- Publicly insulting a public official in connection with their duties
- Making threats
- Targeting individuals involved in counterterrorism
Additionally, prosecutors are seeking a political ban under Article 53/1 of the Turkish Penal Code. If convicted, İmamoğlu could be barred from holding public office, including municipal and parliamentary positions, either permanently or for a set period.
