Istanbul – In a significant confrontation on Friday, Turkish police utilized tear gas to disperse a crowd of demonstrators outside a courthouse in Istanbul, where supporters had gathered to show solidarity with the city’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. The rally coincided with Imamoglu’s summons to provide testimony related to two ongoing legal investigations against him.
A large number of supporters assembled outside the Caglayan courthouse to voice their opposition against the legal challenges facing Imamoglu, who is a prominent member of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and is considered a potential contender for the presidency against Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
During a two-hour session on Friday, Imamoglu responded to prosecutors regarding remarks he made about both a chief prosecutor and a court expert. Observers and critics have suggested that these legal actions appear to be an attempt to marginalize him from the political landscape.
Imamoglu, who has previously been convicted of insulting members of Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council, risks facing a political ban if his 2022 conviction is confirmed by a higher court. Additionally, he is currently on trial for alleged involvement in rigging bids for a tender dating back to 2015.
Clashes erupted when riot police prevented a CHP bus from getting close to the courthouse, leading to confrontations with protesters. The situation intensified as police deployed tear gas to manage the crowd, although it remains unclear if any arrests occurred during the altercations.
After the chaos, Imamoglu addressed his supporters from the top of a bus at a different location, stating, “Today’s issue is … an issue of seeking rights and justice. Unfortunately, today’s issue stems from a conspiracy that is being set up against Istanbul.”
First elected mayor of Istanbul in March 2019, Imamoglu’s victory was a significant setback for Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party, which had maintained control over the city for 25 years. The party previously sought to annul the election results, citing alleged irregularities, which led to a repeat election shortly after, in which Imamoglu again emerged victorious.
Most recently, he was reelected as the mayor of Istanbul, Turkey’s most populous city, last year, reaffirming his position in the municipal leadership despite the ongoing legal hurdles.
