An Istanbul court on Monday rejected an appeal seeking the release of former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who has been held in custody since March on corruption charges. The decision also applies to other key suspects in the case, including Murat Ongun, a senior aide and former executive of a media company linked to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), reads a Daily Sabah post.
Imamoglu, a prominent figure from the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), is one of 99 individuals accused of orchestrating a criminal network that allegedly manipulated municipal tenders, accepted bribes, and misused public resources. Authorities also accuse the group of unlawfully accessing and storing the personal data of Istanbul residents.
The former mayor, who was reelected in 2024, is facing several investigations that trace back to his earlier term as mayor of Istanbul’s Beylikduzu district. In addition to corruption, charges include insulting public officials and abuse of authority.
Currently detained in the Silivri prison complex, Imamoglu’s trial date has yet to be announced. His arrest has sparked strong political backlash, with CHP leaders denouncing the move as a politically driven attempt to silence dissent. The party has organized daily rallies outside the IBB building, demanding his release and calling for judicial transparency.
The case has added to mounting political tension in Turkiye, where critics argue that legal institutions are increasingly used to suppress opposition voices ahead of the national election cycle.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
