11.04.2025 13:20
Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek's statements led to a lawsuit, and during the first hearing, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who attended the trial, expressed his defense with anger, saying, "A threat? Who have I threatened? Is this even possible? This is an open insult; how is this an open insult? This is freedom of expression." Additionally, a photo of İmamoğlu while he was making his defense was also shared.
The first hearing of the case opened against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is accused of 'publicly insulting a public official due to their duty', 'threatening', and 'targeting individuals who have served in the fight against terrorism' due to statements made about Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek and his family during a panel he attended on January 20, was held.
MANY NAMES FROM CHP DELEGATION ATTENDED
The first hearing was held in the courtroom No. 2 located in the Silivri Marmara Closed Penal Institution campus due to the inadequacy of the 14th Heavy Criminal Court hall at the Istanbul Courthouse. The hearing was attended by the lawyer of Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek, Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is detained in another case, İmamoğlu's lawyers, his wife Dilek İmamoğlu, and many names from the Republican People's Party (CHP) delegation.
HERE IS İMAMOĞLU'S DEFENSE
During the hearing, IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu stated, "I wish for a beautiful conclusion for both our country and our nation. I am here today, and I inevitably ask myself, 'Why am I here?' I do not have difficulty finding the answer. I have concerns during this process. While being here today, I have witnessed how people and families are in sorrow, following cases like the Ergenekon conspiracy. My political sensitivity has brought me here. I have learned many lessons from those days. The feelings underlying the accusations in the case that started with my speech at the panel on January 20 have shown how correct my concerns are by bringing me to Silivri.
"I AM HERE BECAUSE I WON ELECTIONS 3 TIMES"
On behalf of the great Turkish nation, I expect the esteemed Turkish judiciary to make correct decisions. People live so that the state may live. Of course, you are sitting here on behalf of the judiciary, but I am also here as the mayor of the oldest city in this country and the mayor of our beloved Istanbul. I will talk about the charges attributed to me, but first, I am curious about why I am here. I am someone who has won elections three times. I am here because I will stand before 86 million people as a presidential candidate, and I express this in your presence. It is indeed sad that I am being tried here in the political environment created by Turkey. Why am I so targeted? I am in this situation because I strive for Istanbul. I am here because I work for tens of thousands of people to be able to eat, for children to go to kindergarten, and for people to use the metro. I am here because I have brought merit into institutions. That is why I am in Silivri today. This will not last long.
"EVEN THE WORST CRIMINALS SHOULD NOT EXPERIENCE THIS"
Turkey has experienced many trials. Even in the most difficult conditions, when a few heroes emerge, the nation has rallied behind them and fought for independence. Just think, Ekrem İmamoğlu is taken into custody, held in detention for 5 days, and sent to Silivri. Who is Ekrem İmamoğlu? A person who has traveled everywhere, held the most beautiful positions in Turkey, served Turkey, and beautified the land where he was born. Who can experience such things? Even the worst criminals should not experience this. What benefit do such attitudes provide? I love all the children of this country. I love them no matter who they are. I made this speech, yes. So what happened? A minute or two later, someone showed me the news saying, 'An investigation has been opened against Ekrem İmamoğlu.' I say in my speech that I will be the guarantee of your children's future, and I will be.
"WHOM HAVE I THREATENED?"
There has never been such a thing as a threat in my life. I wanted to make an appointment with the Chief Public Prosecutor, but they did not give me an appointment for weeks. I made criticisms within the scope of freedom of expression. It was a threat. Whom have I threatened? Can such a thing happen? Publicly insulting, how is this public insult? This is freedom of expression. I entrust myself to the esteemed Turkish judiciary," he said. Meanwhile, a photo taken while İmamoğlu was making his defense was also shared.
REQUEST TO JOIN ACCEPTED
After a 5-minute break given to the hearing, the court announced its interim decision. After the lawyer of Akın Gürlek requested to join the case, the request was accepted regarding the charges of threat and insult. However, the request to join regarding the charge of 'targeting individuals who have served in the fight against terrorism' was rejected on the grounds that Gürlek was not harmed by the crime. The hearing was postponed to June 16, Monday.
FROM THE INDICTMENT
The indictment stated that it was concluded that İmamoğlu committed the crime of 'targeting individuals who have served in the fight against terrorism' by targeting Gürlek during his speech at the panel he attended. It emphasized that İmamoğlu's publicly used statements aimed to belittle the victim Akın Gürlek, who is a public official. It was noted in the indictment that İmamoğlu's speech as a whole aimed to harm the dignity of the person and did not qualify as an expression of opinion, and it was concluded that the speech exceeded the limits of expressing thought and could not receive legal protection in the context of freedom of expression. The indictment reminded that İmamoğlu used expressions that would target Gürlek and his family members, causing them harm and distress, and stated 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 public prosecutor requested that İmamoğlu be sentenced to imprisonment from 2 years and 8 months to 7 years and 4 months for the crimes of 'publicly insulting a public official due to their duty', 'threatening', and 'targeting individuals who have served in the fight against terrorism'. The public prosecutor also reminded that an investigation was opened against Ekrem İmamoğlu for 'attempting to influence a public official, an expert, or a witness' and 'attempting to influence a fair trial' due to his statements about one of the individuals serving as an expert in the courts during a press conference he held on January 27. It was stated that when the two incidents were evaluated together, it was concluded that Ekrem İmamoğlu aimed to exert pressure on the judiciary and its members by publicly using the position brought by his duty and to influence in favor of the party he belongs to. Therefore, it was requested that the application of Article 53, paragraph 1 of the Turkish Penal Code, which states, "A person convicted of a crime intentionally shall be deprived of the right to hold a public office, including membership in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey or any public office or service subject to appointment or election, as a legal consequence of the conviction," be applied to prohibit him from performing public duties.Elbette, mevcut HTML içeriğini bozmadan metni İngilizce'ye çevirebilirim. Ancak, çevirmemi istediğiniz belirli bir metin veya HTML içeriği sağlamadınız. Lütfen çevirmemi istediğiniz metni veya HTML kodunu paylaşın, böylece size yardımcı olabilirim.