30.04.2026 18:03
An interim decision is expected at the 30th hearing of the IMM case. While the prosecutor's office requested the release of 9 people, former IMM President Ekrem İmamoğlu, who presented his defense, said, '29 witnesses testified at 29 hearings, and it is unclear how many months or years the case will continue,' and requested the release of all detained defendants except himself.
REQUESTED RELEASE OF ALL DEFENDANTS EXCEPT HIMSELF
Istanbul 40th Heavy Penal Court is expected to issue an interim ruling today in the İBB case being conducted at Silivri Marmara Closed Penal Institution. Former İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is also detained in the case, took the floor and said, "I have said it many times, let my friends go, I am here. Your issue is with me, someone's issue is with me..." and requested the release of all detained defendants.
İmamoğlu stated, "Let these innocent people, my friends, go, I am here. Send all my friends, children, women, relatives, workers, bureaucrats, politicians, everyone home. It is a pity, it is a sin. Do not consume people's rights. I do not ask for a favor from you; I ask for law. Not a privilege; I ask for equality. I want you to contribute to the equality of everyone before the law. Not a gift; I ask for justice."
"IT IS UNCLEAR HOW LONG THE CASE WILL CONTINUE"
İmamoğlu, stating that 82 days have passed since the beginning of the case and 39 people have testified in 29 sessions, said, "It is unclear how many more months or years it will continue. Since the day the İBB operation began, justice has not been sought. Today is April 30. We are leaving another month behind. In Turkey, where freedoms are usurped, prisons are filled to capacity, detention has turned from a precaution into de facto punishment, and all means are deemed legitimate to create perception, the harshest forms of oppression are being experienced. What is the meaning of today's unlawful operations conducted through the judiciary for political purposes? What does it gain for anyone? Why are these heavy costs being imposed? Unfortunately, everything that is happening is clearly against the law, justice, and human rights. Moreover, these actions have no benefit to Turkey's present, future, or tomorrow. They have brought nothing to the country, but they contribute to the interest of one person."
CLAIM: "NOT ONLY THE DEFENDANTS BUT THE NATION IS PAYING THE PRICE"
İmamoğlu claimed, "The mechanism operating here is not based on law but on a political calendar; it is an execution system set to remove obstacles in front of the government. And the price of this system is being paid not only by the defendants but by the entire nation," and continued his defense as follows:
"This case is a deliberate attempt to intervene against Turkey's democratic accumulation, aimed at producing political results. But they will not succeed; our nation's will will overcome this conspiracy. Mr. President, Honorable Panel, the release of 18 people in this file last month, and two drivers who were awaiting indictment gaining their freedom last week, are certainly welcome developments; my friends returning to their homes is valuable. But believe me, it is not enough. These releases are not sufficient compared to what has happened over the past year, the suffering endured, and the treatment these people have been subjected to; because in this file, there are still many more lives waiting for freedom."
"THERE ARE DETAINEES WHO HAVE NOT KNOWN WHAT THEY ARE CHARGED WITH FOR A YEAR"
İmamoğlu, stating that the files of individuals such as Onur Gülin, Doğukan Arıcı, Fikri Murat Demir, Çağatay Takaoğlu, Savaş Can, Arzu Can, Burak Arslan, İlkay Onok, Engin Gönül, Faruk Ceyhan have been separated and they have been held in prison for a year without an indictment, said, "These names are not a list; each is a life waiting to return home, a family waiting at the door. But those doors have not been opened for about a year. There is no allegation, but there is detention. They are being held without knowing what to defend, what they are accused of, or when they will face a judge. This is no longer a precaution; it is an indefinite punishment. And this process is evolving into an increasingly dangerous place. People are being judged not by their actions, but by their associations."
REMINDER OF CONSTITUTIONAL COURT AND ECHR DECISIONS
İmamoğlu, also stating that he is hopeful about the interim decision to be given today, said, "I believe the decision cannot be made by ignoring this whole picture. Because a completely different process is being followed for those who are 'confessors' in the same file. For these individuals, house arrest is lifted, travel bans are lifted, trustees over their companies are removed; their lives return to normal. Some of the slanderers are outside. Almost all of their measures have been lifted. Blockers have been removed. Travel bans have been lifted. Decisions regarding their companies have been lifted. Since even slanderers can be tried without detention, why are these people deprived of their freedom? Let them be tried without detention! Moreover, there are people here who have already served the time they would spend in prison even if convicted."
İmamoğlu, emphasizing that the presumption of innocence and the principle of trial without detention are established rights under Constitutional Court and ECHR decisions, requested the release of all detainees except himself with the following words:
"YOUR ISSUE IS WITH ME, RELEASE MY FRIENDS"
"Mr. President, I do not expect you to do the same as the prosecution. I do not expect you to do more. I expect the opposite. I expect courage. I expect law. I expect conscience. On what evidence are you holding these innocent people? On what evidence will you continue to hold them? On what concrete basis are you stripping them of their freedom? Zero evidence, zero proof, endless suffering... I have said it many times, let my friends go, I am here. Today in this hall, I repeat again. Your issue is with me, someone's issue is with me... Let these innocent people, my friends, go, I am here. Send all my friends, children, women, relatives, workers, bureaucrats, politicians, everyone home. It is a pity, it is a sin. Do not consume people's rights. I do not ask for a favor from you; I ask for law. Not a privilege; I ask for equality. I want you to contribute to the equality of everyone before the law. Not a gift; I ask for justice."