08.07.2026 17:10
An investigation has been launched ex officio against Ekrem İmamoğlu for the crime of 'threatening a public official' due to his remarks before the court panel during the 64th hearing of the case regarding corruption allegations against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality: "I will not defend myself, I will judge, I will judge, don't worry, I will judge those who prepared the indictment..."
An investigation was launched ex officio against Ekrem İmamoğlu for the crime of 'threatening a public official' due to words he uttered before the court panel during the 64th hearing of the case opened regarding the corruption allegation against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
STATEMENT FROM THE CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
In a statement made by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on the matter, it was stated, 'Regarding the defendant Ekrem İmamoğlu in the case file numbered 2026/208 of the Istanbul 33rd Heavy Penal Court, due to the words he uttered before the court panel during the hearing on 08/07/2026, stating, "I will not make a defense, I will judge, I will judge, do not worry, I will judge those who prepared the indictment...", an ex officio investigation has been initiated by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for the crime of 'threatening a public official'.'
WHAT HAPPENED?
Ekrem İmamoğlu, who came to the podium to make his defense during the 64th hearing of the case, was removed from the courtroom after an argument with the court president over the claim that his defense time was restricted. As tension rose in the hall, the court panel ordered the SEGBIS audio and video recording system to be turned off.
İmamoğlu claimed that the case was being rushed to a conclusion. Stating that in previous hearings it was mentioned that the schedule could extend to August 10, but it was suddenly decided on July 9, İmamoğlu alleged that he was only given a few hours for his defense and described the situation as a 'serious rights violation'.
Addressing the court president, İmamoğlu emphasized that an unfair double standard was being applied to him, saying, 'Ümit Özdağ made a full day's defense for insulting the President, dear Selahattin Demirtaş is unfortunately not being released, he made a 14-day defense without interruption.'
Stating that the defense text could not be interfered with, İmamoğlu said, 'Restricting Ekrem İmamoğlu harms you, your bench, and the Turkish judiciary. I do not care about the decision you make, you will be left alone with it, but the Turkish judiciary will be harmed. You will not decide what I will speak today; I determine the text.'
COURT PRESIDENT: EITHER YOU MAKE A DEFENSE OR YOU USE YOUR RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT
The court president, clearly stating that there would be no flexibility in the schedule, replied to İmamoğlu, 'We will not change the rules. We will conclude the trial on the schedule we have determined. It is up to you whether to make a defense. Either you make a defense or you use your right to remain silent. If you will not use your right to remain silent, we will take your defense.'
İMAMOĞLU REMOVED FROM THE COURTROOM
İmamoğlu, asserting that the prosecution had not presented a single concrete piece of evidence in 63 hearings, recalled the historic 36th NATO Summit in Ankara and asked, 'How can you explain silencing Ekrem İmamoğlu in such an environment?'
As İmamoğlu increased the intensity of his criticisms, nerves became strained. The court president said, 'As a panel, we did not cause the hearings to prolong. This is not a place for you to judge; you came here to be judged' and gave the order to the gendarmes to remove İmamoğlu from the hall.
"THOSE I WILL JUDGE IN ANKARA ARE TRYING TO INTERFERE WITH THOSE WHO JUDGE HERE"
With this decision, protest voices rose in the hall, and Ekrem İmamoğlu was removed from the hall accompanied by gendarmes. Turning back and addressing the court panel, İmamoğlu said, 'Those I will judge in Ankara are trying to interfere with those who judge here. The Ministry of Justice is a ministry of collapse. I did not come to make a defense, I came to judge. I will judge, do not worry, I will judge those who prepared the indictment...'