16.07.2025 12:00
Ekrem İmamoğlu appeared before the judge again in the case where he is being tried for allegedly threatening Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek and his family. İmamoğlu, who is facing a prison sentence of up to 7 years and 4 months and a political ban, had a photo taken in the courtroom shared. Meanwhile, a debate occurred in court between the prosecutor and İmamoğlu regarding "Don't look at me."
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The trial of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was arrested and suspended from duty, continues in its second session regarding the demand for a prison sentence of up to 7 years and 4 months for allegedly threatening Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek and his family during a panel he attended. The hearing, held in Silivri by the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court, was attended by Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was arrested in a 'corruption' investigation, along with the lawyers of the parties involved.
ÖZGÜR ÖZEL IN THE COURTROOM
In the courtroom, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, İmamoğlu's wife Dilek Kaya İmamoğlu, his son Selim İmamoğlu, CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik, and many members of parliament created a significant presence. The gendarmerie present in the courtroom controlled the movements.
İMAMOĞLU IS DEFENDING HIMSELF
After the defendant Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is detained in the 'corruption' investigation, arrived in the courtroom under gendarmerie escort, he is making his defense against the opinion announced in the previous session.
NEW PHOTO OF İMAMOĞLU AFTER DAYS
A new photo of Ekrem İmamoğlu, who entered the courtroom, was shared after several days. As İmamoğlu entered the courtroom, chants of "President İmamoğlu" were heard, and he was applauded standing up.
TENSION OF "DON'T LOOK AT ME" IN THE TRIAL
Tension arose between İmamoğlu and the prosecutor during the trial. According to the news from Gerçek Gündem; while İmamoğlu was making his defense, the prosecutor warned him not to look at him. Ekrem İmamoğlu repeatedly asked the presiding judge, "Is it forbidden for me to look at the prosecutor?"
At that moment, the lawyers and members of parliament present in the courtroom began to bang on the tables, and the audience supported them with applause. The judge warned the lawyers and audience in the courtroom to maintain the order of the trial. The trial continued after a brief period of tension.
"I DECIDE WHO TO LOOK AT"
After Ekrem İmamoğlu finished his defense, his lawyer Fikret İlkiz took the floor to make a defense regarding the indictment. İlkiz began his remarks by saying, "As a defense lawyer, I also speak while looking at whoever I want according to my own method. I decide who to look at."
FROM THE INDICTMENT
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akın Gürlek is referred to as the 'victim', while Ekrem İmamoğlu is referred to as the 'suspect'.
It was stated that he committed the crime of targeting Gürlek, who is one of the individuals fighting against terrorism.
The indictment stated that the victim Gürlek had previously served as the President of Heavy Penal Courts, Peace Criminal Court, and Deputy Minister of Justice, and that he had been targeted by various armed terrorist organizations, especially DHKP/C, during his tenure and is still known to be targeted, and that he was threatened by the publication of his personal information and photo in various media outlets and social media accounts of terrorist organizations. It was noted in the indictment that İmamoğlu's statements regarding Cem Aydın, the Chairman of the CHP Youth Branch, against whom legal action was initiated, constituted a crime of targeting and serving armed terrorist organizations, and that he committed the crime of targeting Gürlek, who is one of the individuals legally protected in the fight against terrorism.
"EXCEEDED THE LIMITS OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, AIMED TO HARM THE DIGNITY OF THE PERSON"
In the indictment, it was stated that İmamoğlu attempted to belittle Gürlek with the words, "Look, look, Chief Prosecutor, I am telling you. Your mind has decayed..." and that these words had a belittling nature, exceeded the limits of freedom of expression, aimed to harm the dignity of the person, and did not constitute an expression of opinion.
"AIMED TO CREATE PRESSURE ON JUDICIAL BODIES AND MEDIA"
It was stated in the indictment that İmamoğlu publicly targeted an individual who is one of the experts in public cases before the courts, presenting him as if he were the only expert, and that he openly aimed to create a result favorable to the suspects in the investigation by misleadingly influencing the decision-making process. Additionally, it was expressed that he attempted to influence the judicial officer by revealing his name for this purpose, and that he aimed to create pressure on judicial bodies and their members and to influence them in favor of the party he belongs to by using his position and influence publicly.
REQUEST FOR UP TO 7 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS IN PRISON
In the prepared indictment, it was requested that İmamoğlu be sentenced to imprisonment of 2 years and 8 months to 7 years and 4 months for the crimes of 'publicly insulting a public official due to his duty', 'threat', and 'targeting individuals who have fought against terrorism'.
REQUEST FOR DISMISSAL FROM PUBLIC SERVICE
Furthermore, in the indictment, it was requested that the provision of Article 53, paragraph 1 of the Turkish Penal Code, which states that "a person who is convicted of a crime committed intentionally shall be deprived of the right to hold a permanent, temporary, or occasional public office as a legal consequence of the conviction" be applied.
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