İstanbul’s Jailed Ex-Mayor Faces 2,300-Year Indictment, Deepening Türkiye’s Political Divide
In a sweeping escalation of one of Türkiye’s most consequential political cases, prosecutors have filed a 3,900-page indictment against Ekrem İmamoğlu, the former mayor of Istanbul and a leading opposition figure. The charges—142 counts ranging from running a criminal organization to bribery, money-laundering and bid-rigging—carry a combined potential sentence of more than 2,300 years, according to multiple international outlets including France 24, The Guardian, Reuters and Le Monde.
The case has swiftly moved beyond a legal matter and into the centre of Türkiye’s political struggle. Critics, including rights groups and members of the opposition, argue that the prosecution appears designed to sideline one of President Erdoğan’s most visible challengers ahead of future national elections. İmamoğlu’s supporters describe the charges as part of a broader pattern of political pressure targeting opposition-run municipalities.
The investigation, widely covered by AP News and other international agencies, poses far-reaching implications: from questions about judicial independence and democratic norms to the impact on Türkiye’s global image at a moment of heightened regional and economic uncertainty.
The court is now expected to decide whether to formally accept the indictment and move the case to trial. Until then, the proceedings remain under intense domestic and international scrutiny, with observers watching closely for what this case may signal about the future of political competition in Türkiye.