Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu faces trial in major graft case

ISTANBUL: The trial of Istanbul's imprisoned mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, commenced on Monday in a large-scale corruption case that has drawn significant attention both domestically and internationally. The proceedings, held at the Silivri court complex, involve more than 400 defendants and have been criticized by rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. These groups have condemned what they describe as the "weaponisation" of Turkiye's justice system to eliminate political rivals.

Imamoglu, who was arrested on March 19 last year and has remained in custody since then, appeared in court for the opening session of the trial. Prosecutors are seeking a sentence totaling 2,430 years for the mayor. The case is seen by critics as an attempt to undermine Imamoglu's potential challenge to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The trial began with procedural difficulties, as the judge suspended the session after only 15 minutes. When the hearing resumed several hours later, the main defense lawyers requested the judge's recusal, citing procedural irregularities and concerns over impartiality. Supporters in the courtroom expressed their backing for Imamoglu, chanting, "We are proud of you!"

The case continues to be closely monitored by observers and has sparked debate regarding the independence of the judiciary in Turkiye. Rights groups maintain that the proceedings are part of broader efforts to suppress opposition voices in the lead-up to future elections.