ISTANBUL (AP/Middle East Eye) – A court in Turkey sentenced the mayor of Istanbul, the country’s most populous city, — to two years and seven months in prison Wednesday on charges of insulting members of Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council.
The court convicted Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and also imposed a political ban that could lead to his removal from office. Imamoglu, who belongs to the main opposition Republican People’s Party, is expected to appeal the verdict.
Critics alleged the mayor’s trial was an attempt to eliminate a key opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey is expected to hold a presidential election next year.
Imamoglu was elected to lead Istanbul in March 2019. His win was a historic blow to Erdogan and the president’s Justice and Development Party, which had controlled Istanbul for a quarter-century. The party pushed to void the municipal election results in the city of 16 million, alleging irregularities.
The challenge resulted in a repeat of the election a few months later, which Imamoglu also won.
Imamoglu was charged with insulting senior public officials after he described canceling legitimate elections as an act of “foolishness” on Nov. 4, 2019.
The mayor denied insulting members of the electoral council, insisting his words were a response to Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu calling him “a fool” and accusing Imamoglu of criticizing Turkey during a visit to the European Parliament.
Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavus, also a CHP member, condemned Wednesday’s verdict on Twitter, saying “unconnected justice and law”.
Polling has repeatedly shown a number of CHP leaders pulling ahead of Erdogan, raising the possibility that elections next year could see the end of his two decades of rule.
Both Imamoglu and Yavus enjoy widespread support and have been seen as possible candidates for the presidency.