16.06.2025 11:11
Ekrem İmamoğlu is facing a judge in Silivri for the second time today due to his remarks directed at Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek. In the case where İmamoğlu is being prosecuted for "targeting individuals involved in the fight against terrorism," "insult," and "threat," the prosecutor has requested a prison sentence ranging from 2 years and 8 months to 7 years and 4 months for İmamoğlu. Meanwhile, İmamoğlu, who is in prison, was seen on camera after several days.
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The second hearing of the case in which the removed Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is being prosecuted for "Threat", "Public Insult Against a Public Official Due to Their Duty", and "Targeting Individuals Who Have Served in the Fight Against Terrorism" due to his statements directed at Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek began at the 14th Heavy Penal Court. The hearing is being held in courtroom number 2 located in the Marmara Closed Penitentiary Institution campus.
CROWDING OCCURRED
There was a crowd at the entrance to the courtroom. Some of the spectators were not allowed into the courtroom. İmamoğlu, who faces a prison sentence of up to 7 years and 9 months and a political ban, was brought to the courtroom under the escort of gendarmerie. CHP Chairman Özgür Özel and party members also attended the hearing as spectators.
PROSECUTOR REQUESTED UP TO 7 YEARS IN PRISON IN THE OPINION
The presiding judge stated that the opinion prepared by the public prosecutor's office regarding the main issue had been submitted to the file. In the opinion, it was requested that İmamoğlu be sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 2 years and 8 months to 7 years and 4 months for the crimes of "public insult against a public official due to their duty", "threat", and "targeting individuals who have served in the fight against terrorism".
POLITICAL BAN WAS ALSO REQUESTED
Additionally, it was requested that Article 53, paragraph 1 of the Turkish Penal Code, which states, "A person who is convicted of a crime committed intentionally shall be deprived of the right to undertake a permanent, temporary, or provisional public duty as a legal consequence of the conviction, including membership in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey or employment in all public offices and services subject to appointment or election by state, province, municipality, village, or institutions and organizations under their supervision and control," be applied.
İMAMOĞLU SPOTTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DAYS
On the other hand, a photo of Ekrem İmamoğlu taken in the courtroom was released. In the footage, İmamoğlu was seen making his defense. İmamoğlu was last seen on April 11 in the Akın Gürlek case.
STARTED BY MENTIONING FERDİ ZEYREK
In his defense, Ekrem İmamoğlu began his remarks by mentioning Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ferdi Zeyrek:
"I could not be by his side. He left by leaving a lesson. The fact that hundreds of thousands of people bid farewell to a manager in mourning is a great lesson for this world and Turkey. The fact that our President, who walks gracefully into eternity, established this bond of affection with only fourteen months of service reflects the deep longing of our nation for a fair, smiling, and inclusive manager who does not discriminate and does not say 'those who are not with me should be eliminated'... If this emotional flood is not clear evidence of being unifying and embracing people simply for being human, what else could it be?"
FROM THE INDICTMENT
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Terror Crimes Investigation Bureau, Chief Prosecutor Akın Gürlek was included as the "victim".
The indictment states that an investigation was initiated ex officio upon the determination that İmamoğlu's statements made during a panel he attended contained criminal elements directed at Prosecutor Gürlek.
It is noted in the indictment that Gürlek, who currently serves as the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor, has previously held positions in heavy penal courts responsible for investigating terrorism offenses, as well as serving as a peace judge and Deputy Minister of Justice, and that he has been targeted by various terrorist organizations, especially DHKP/C, during his tenure.
The indictment highlights that Gürlek has been threatened by the publication of his personal information and photographs by various media outlets and social media accounts of terrorist organizations, stating that İmamoğlu committed the crime of "targeting individuals who have served in the fight against terrorism" by targeting Gürlek with his statements.
It is stated in the indictment that İmamoğlu's publicly used statements were aimed at belittling Akın Gürlek, who is a public official, and that the expression exceeded the limits of freedom of expression, and that the statements and speech in question aimed to harm the individual's dignity as a whole and did not constitute an expression of opinion, and that the act could not be legally protected in the context of freedom of expression.
The indictment mentions that in İmamoğlu's speech, Prosecutor Gürlek and his family members were targeted, and expressions were used that implied they would be harmed or wronged, stating that "the act was objectively suitable, sufficient, and appropriate to create fear in the victim, and it was understood that the suspect committed the crime of threat."
The indictment also refers to an investigation regarding İmamoğlu's public statements during a press conference held on January 27, where he allegedly targeted a person who was serving as an expert in the courts, presenting them as the only expert, with the intention of influencing the decision to be made in favor of the investigation suspects by publicly revealing their name, thus committing the crime of "attempting to influence the judiciary".
When both incidents are evaluated together, it is indicated in the indictment that İmamoğlu aimed to exert pressure on the judiciary and its members by publicly using his position and influence, and to influence in favor of the party he belongs to, and it is requested that İmamoğlu be sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 2 years and 8 months to 7 years and 4 months for the crimes of "public insult against a public official due to their duty", "threat", and "targeting individuals who have served in the fight against terrorism".
Additionally, it is requested that the provision of Article 53, paragraph 1 of the Turkish Penal Code, which states, "A person who is convicted of a crime committed intentionally shall be deprived of the right to undertake a permanent, temporary, or provisional public duty as a legal consequence of the conviction; including membership in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey or employment in all public offices and services subject to appointment or election by state, province, municipality, village, or institutions and organizations under their supervision and control," be applied against İmamoğlu.
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