05.03.2026 14:40
The second hearing of the "Ugly Case," in which the CHP's presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is accused of insulting Serkan Şahin during a fair visit, was held. The Bakırköy 33rd Criminal Court of First Instance dismissed the case on the grounds that a prepayment had been made.
Ekrem İmamoğlu visited the TUSAŞ stand at the Istanbul Fair Center after the terrorist attack on TUSAŞ in Ankara on October 23, 2024, condemned the terrorism, and stated, "Especially this attack on the defense industry is an attack on our nation. I believe it is essential that our institutions and organizations are protected more carefully and that they continue their activities in areas that have been sterilized with more care and attention."
POLITICAL BAN WAS REQUESTED
A lawsuit was filed against İmamoğlu due to his dialogue with a person named Serkan Şahin during this visit. A prison sentence of 3 months and 15 days to 2 years and 4 months was requested for İmamoğlu, who is detained in Silivri's Marmara Closed Prison, due to his statements "Continue your ugly politics, you are quite ugly," on the grounds of "insult." Additionally, a political ban was also requested against İmamoğlu under Article 53 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).
THE PROSECUTOR ALSO REQUESTED DISMISSAL
During the first hearing of the case known to the public as the "Ugly Case," held by the Bakırköy 33rd Criminal Court of First Instance on February 27, İmamoğlu's lawyer, Kemal Polat, emphasized that his client did not believe his words were a crime, but stated that the prepayment had been made and requested the dismissal of the case. The prosecution also expressed its opinion on the dismissal of the case, stating that a receipt regarding the prepayment had been submitted to the file.
THE CASE WAS DISMISSED
In today's hearing, which İmamoğlu and Şahin did not attend, the Bakırköy 33rd Criminal Court of First Instance evaluated the requests and decided to dismiss the case due to the prepayment made.