Turkish court sentences ousted Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu to 25 months in prison
A Turkish court sentenced ousted Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu to 25 months in prison for insulting a public official, imposing a political ban that could formally strip him of his mayoral office.
Verdict and political ban
A Turkish court sentenced Istanbul's ousted mayor Ekrem Imamoglu to 25 months in prison on Friday evening, concluding a controversial judicial proceeding. The court found Imamoglu guilty of insulting a public official, as reported by Turkish media. In addition to the prison term, judges imposed a formal political activity ban against the politician, who had already been detained prior to the verdict. Imamoglu attended the court session remotely, connected via a video transmission from a high-security prison facility. If the sentence becomes legally binding following appeals, Imamoglu will formally forfeit his mayoral office. Under Turkish law, that forfeiture would permit the Istanbul city council to convene and select a replacement mayor to lead the metropolis of millions.
Legal background and retrials
The conviction stems from an incident four years ago in which prosecutors accused Imamoglu of insulting a district mayor in Istanbul. The case had previously gone through two separate judicial proceedings that both ended in full acquittals for Imamoglu. An appeals court subsequently intervened, ordering the case to be reopened and retried on the basis of alleged formal procedural errors. During Friday's hearing, Imamoglu denounced the ruling, describing the verdict as a scandal and calling the underlying accusations baseless according to state broadcaster TRT. Turkish opposition groups declared the trial to be politically motivated, arguing that the proceeding had the sole purpose of eliminating President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main rival from public life.
Municipal governance and 2025 arrests
The opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has controlled the Istanbul metropolitan administration since winning local municipal elections in 2019. Imamoglu defended his mayoral position during the 2024 municipal elections, cementing his reputation as the foremost opponent of Turkey's long-serving Islamic-conservative president. In March 2025, Turkish authorities conducted a nationwide wave of arrests, taking Imamoglu and numerous Istanbul municipal staff members into police custody. The enforcement operation extended across several other regions of Turkey, resulting in the detention of additional CHP mayors.
- Opposition party CHP wins the Istanbul municipal administration in local elections
- Ekrem Imamoglu defends his post as Istanbul mayor in municipal elections
- Turkish authorities arrest Imamoglu and municipal staff during nationwide sweep
- Turkish court sentences Imamoglu to 25 months in prison with a political ban
Additional proceedings and international response
Following the March 2025 arrest sweep, Turkish prosecutors initiated a cascade of investigations and legal proceedings against Imamoglu. The authorities brought a series of additional allegations against the ousted mayor, including formal charges of corruption, money laundering, and the formation of a criminal organization. The German federal government, the European Parliament, and the European Commission condemned Imamoglu's removal, describing the action as a serious setback for democracy in Turkey. Erdogan's administration rejected any criticism regarding executive pressure, denying that the government exercises any influence over the judiciary. Given the ongoing sequence of investigations, trials, and convictions, it remains questionable how effectively Imamoglu can challenge the Islamic-conservative head of state in a prospective electoral contest.
