İmamoğlu gave figures in court! Here's what he recounted on the 3rd day of his defense

16.10.2026 15:32

The 100th day hearing of the İBB case is continuing at the Marmara Closed Prison complex. Ekrem İmamoğlu, the suspended İBB Mayor and one of the detained defendants in the case, on the third day of his defense made allegations regarding zoning plan changes made in Istanbul during the 2009-2019 period. İmamoğlu also criticized the indictment against him and the expert reports in the file, and requested that the hearing records be published.

Speaking on the third day of his defense in the İBB Trial, Ekrem İmamoğlu made allegations regarding zoning practices in Istanbul during previous administrations. İmamoğlu also criticized the trial not being broadcast live, the indictment, and the expert reports.

DAY 100 OF THE TRIAL

The 100th-day hearing of the İBB Trial, with 436 defendants, 53 of whom are detained, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, is continuing at the Marmara Closed Prison campus of the Istanbul 33rd Heavy Penal Court. On the third day of his defense, İmamoğlu said, “Some people were sitting in the Palace. Some people thought they were serving in Parliament. During a period when they could not go among the citizens, I did not stay away from the markets for six years. I shared everything with people from the streets and avenues, everything. And I talked about everything with those people. Because we serve them. If we will not listen to them, who will we listen to?”

“ISTANBUL IS COMPLETELY DEVASTATED”

Recounting a conversation he had with a professor and an architect in the past, İmamoğlu said, “He said something like this, I never forget it, ‘Son, look, building a lot does not make money. What matters is doing the good and high-quality version.’ Or, well, ‘There is no such thing as a very good plot; there is a very good project.’ I mulled these over in my head like that. It was 2000, I was 29-30 years old. And my perspective on life had already changed after the 1999 earthquake,” he said.

Conveying his observations about construction in Istanbul, İmamoğlu said, “Now I said, friends, Zeytinburnu is full, Bakırköy is full, Fikirtepe has been built on top of itself, over and over. At least do an analysis of what catches your eye; Istanbul is completely devastated. What emerged in some of the projects that caught your eye?”

“WE WERE ROBBED OF 85 BILLION DOLLARS, O MY PEOPLE”

İmamoğlu claimed that in a calculation based on only 130 projects, the value of square meters added through zoning amendments reached 85 billion dollars at the exchange rate of the time. Stating that existing zoning rights were not included in the calculation, İmamoğlu said this amount corresponded to 3 trillion 950 billion lira at the exchange rate of the time. İmamoğlu said, “At exactly the exchange rate of that time, 3 trillion 950 billion lira; 85 billion dollars is İBB's budget for about 10 years. Look, convert those zoning values of that day into dollars, index them to today, escalate them, and see how many dollars they make; you will have difficulty calculating it. In dollar terms, Istanbul appreciated 2-3 times. We were robbed of 85 billion dollars, O my people, we were robbed. Dear Istanbulites, we were robbed,” he said.

“ONLY 130 PROJECTS WERE EXAMINED”

Arguing that most of the projects examined were projects in which publicly owned amenity areas were transferred to private capital, İmamoğlu said, “We evaluated in detail, together with my friends, İBB's 10-year budget and the changes, function changes, or non-legislative practices of 130 projects. These projects were mostly projects in which publicly owned amenity areas were transferred to private capital through zoning plan amendments and special plan approvals. You go shopping, you see huge buildings and huge structures as you pass by. But on the coast of Bakırköy, but in Etiler, but along the TEM highway,” he said.

ŞEHRİZAR MANSIONS AND THE KORU FLORYA EXAMPLE

Giving examples from the projects, İmamoğlu recounted that the area where Şehrizar Mansions are located was expropriated by the Highways Directorate and transferred to Emlak Konut. İmamoğlu claimed that, from 2005 onward, the area was opened to construction first by İBB and then by the ministry despite being a protected site (SİT) and despite the Bosphorus skyline, and that the project was insisted upon even though it was canceled by court decisions.

Touching on the Koru Florya project as well, İmamoğlu said that a public land designated in the zoning plan as a health facility and disaster helicopter landing pad was converted into a 150,000-square-meter commercial area by a plan made by TOKİ in 2009. Stating that the land had in the past been donated to the state for the purpose of building a hospital, İmamoğlu drew attention to the plan changes and lawsuits concerning the area.

16/9 TOWERS AND TEMA PARK

Citing Hattat Tower and the 16/9 towers as examples as well, İmamoğlu said that the 16/9 towers harm Istanbul's historic skyline and that UNESCO was warned. Also speaking about the Tema Park area in Halkalı, İmamoğlu stated that the ministry created a 600,000-square-meter construction area in the zone declared a special project area by İBB in 2010.

“IN FİKİRTEPE, THE FLOOR AREA RATIO ROSE FROM 2.5 TO 4.5, 5.5, 6”

Recounting that his own family had also built in Göztepe in the past, İmamoğlu said that in a project they prepared with an architect in 1997, they did not use part of the zoning rights in order to reduce building density. Noting that at that time a floor area ratio of 1.5 was considered high in Beylikdüzü, while in Fikirtepe the ratio was first 2.5, İmamoğlu said, “Do you know what happened? It became 4.5, it became 5.5, it became 6.”

Saying that areas along the Üsküdar coast were given to kiosks and restaurants, İmamoğlu argued that green areas, protected site areas, disaster areas, and the Bosphorus skyline were not taken into account in zoning practices, and said, “But tell them about profit from buildings, zoning profit, they love it when the floor area ratio increases.” Stating that after 2004 a new understanding of construction dominated Istanbul, İmamoğlu claimed that the arrest of city planners was not a coincidence.

“THEY SAW IT AS A LARGE PLOT TO BE PLUNDERED”

Saying that city planners opposed projects contrary to the public interest and ensured that some projects were stopped or changed, İmamoğlu said, “In the period before us, just now, in only 130 projects, 85 billion dollars—the total figure formed by their values in that period. The result of profit-oriented planning between 2009 and 2019.” Arguing that zoning profit was created by eliminating amenity areas such as cultural, religious, and health facilities, İmamoğlu said, “The issue is a matter of mentality. At the center of our planning philosophy is service to Istanbulites and Istanbul. But in the period before us, they saw our beautiful Istanbul as a large plot to be plundered.”

“THE PRESIDENT DID NOT SAY ‘WE BETRAYED THIS CITY’ FOR NOTHING”

Recalling President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's past remark about Istanbul, “We betrayed this city,” İmamoğlu said, “The President did not say ‘We betrayed this city’ for nothing.” Also recounting a memory concerning the Tema Park area, İmamoğlu said that an official he met told him that when the President saw the project, he said, “Well, we understood the theme, but where is its park?”

“LOOK, NOT 2, NOT 27, NOT 270; 2,278”

İmamoğlu claimed that between 2009 and 2019, as a result of the transition from amenity areas to zoned areas, changes in function and construction conditions, and the opening of unplanned areas to zoning, zoning increases were made on 2,278 parcels.

Arguing that these changes were made without considering the surrounding green areas, parks, schools and traffic needs, İmamoğlu said, “The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s zoning commission has turned into a real estate office, and it has turned into a real estate zoning marketing office.”

“IN SEVEN YEARS, NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO KNOCK ON OUR DOOR”

Noting that during his own administration, in 7 years, the number of parcel-based zoning changes was 69 and that these were implementations of acquired rights or public-interest arrangements, İmamoğlu said, “I underline this especially thickly: not a single plan change aimed at increasing zoning, authored by our administration, has been made. Zero. In seven years, no one has been able to knock on our door. Very clear, zero. 2,278, zero.”

İmamoğlu said, “Did I ever say even once, ‘change this council’s zoning,’ or did I not? By God, I did not; by God, I did not. I swear I would not, I swear I would not.” Saying that they evaluated needs such as schools, mosques, cemevis and green areas through regional plans, İmamoğlu said, “Let them show even one case of illegal construction being tolerated during Ekrem İmamoğlu’s term. We cleaned and demolished hundreds of illegal buildings from the basins despite all objections and all kinds of pressure.”

“AN ORGANIZATION OF RENT AND PLUNDER”

Describing the practices of the previous administration as “an organization of rent and plunder,” İmamoğlu said, “I am talking about a great plunder here. In this period, I am talking about an indescribable, truly great plunder. The rent and plunder organization, run by the previous administration itself, including its political cadres, is a grave urban crime. A grave urban crime. Every single file of these irregular practices worth tens of billions of dollars is a matter for the judiciary.”

REACTION TO MILITARY AREAS: A COLOSSAL RIP-OFF — WHOSE THROAT DID IT SEIZE?

Citing as examples the tank maintenance workshop in Zeytinburnu, Başakşehir Şehit Ahmet Öztürk Barracks, Çekmeköy Şehit Onbaşı Azim Özdemir Barracks, Beşiktaş Military Lodgings, Beşiktaş Gendarmerie Tailoring Workshop, and the 3rd Corps Command area in Sarıyer Maslak, İmamoğlu recalled that after the July 15, 2016 coup attempt, it was said that military areas would be brought to Istanbul residents as public facilities and green areas. İmamoğlu said, “Here are your public facility areas. Here are your green areas.” Claiming that the contractors of the projects in these areas were “familiar names” and that rent was generated through zoning decisions, İmamoğlu said, “If you have the courage, question the four-trillion corruption. A colossal rip-off, whose throat did it seize? That is the bribery and extortion there.”

KANAL İSTANBUL: A BAD REALTOR PROJECT

Criticizing the Kanal Istanbul project, İmamoğlu said, “That is exactly how Kanal Istanbul, the concrete canal we call a rent project, was born. By dismissing us as nothing, dismissing the people as nothing.” Asking who owned the lands along the route and who was being enriched by how much from the project, İmamoğlu said that the project would bring 2 million people to the region and that it was unclear where the wastewater from the housing would flow. İmamoğlu said, “I said at the very beginning, it is a bad realtor project. A bad realtor project.” Arguing that the project would harm green areas, public areas, agricultural and forest lands, and that the Sazlıdere and Terkos dams would be affected, İmamoğlu said, “Do you know what 135 million square meters means? It means five Beylikdüzü. It means four and a half, five Beylikdüzü.”

“I EXPLAINED HOW TO ERADICATE THE FEAR OF EARTHQUAKES”

Saying that after he was elected mayor, his proposals to work with the central government against earthquake risk received no response, İmamoğlu said, “We struggled, saying, ‘Let us tackle the earthquake problem together, let us strengthen Istanbul house by house.’ I went to ministers three times, I personally gave briefings. I said, ‘Please, let us come together. You coordinate it again, and we will serve you.’ I said, ‘Let us set up a table, let us establish an Istanbul Earthquake Council.’” Stating that he proposed including the banking, insurance and construction sectors as well as international organizations in the process, İmamoğlu said, “In this city, within five or six years, we can eradicate the fear of earthquakes. Before an earthquake destroys us, I explained the method to eradicate the fear of earthquakes. But they did not listen.”

“HEY MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, CUT IT YOURSELF”

Stating that his running mates also described at the hearing the practices concerning Istanbul, İmamoğlu said, “They explained that our understanding of urbanism is not rent for individuals but benefit for our entire nation, and the steps taken to protect Istanbul together with the Architectural Aesthetic Commission, from a period in which Istanbul’s skyline was betrayed. And with each account, everyone saw that a fabricated indictment was placed before us and that it was in fact garbage.”

Criticizing that the trial was not broadcast live, İmamoğlu asked that the SEGBİS recordings be shared with the public. İmamoğlu said the following:

“Why do you think a live broadcast was not requested? I mean, why was a live broadcast not requested? Let them cut it themselves, let them cut it. Hey Ministry of Justice, you cut it yourselves. Fragment it like this, pick from within it. Pick whatever you want. Show half an hour of it, an hour of it to the people. A television program, with whomever it wants, with whomever it wants. I mean, whoever they want to put in front of me, let them bring them, for an hour, just an hour. Let us appear before the people. For an hour. An hour. If they do not turn upside down, may I be dishonored—upside down. They cannot appear before the people; that is why they did not want a live broadcast. They do not want it, because they are afraid. Because they know their crimes. ”

“INVESTIGATION TO SUIT THE PERSON, INDICTMENT TO SUIT THOSE CLOSE TO HIM”

Criticizing the manner in which the indictment was prepared, İmamoğlu said, “The mentality that writes and has the indictment written makes and arrests whoever it wants as a defendant. Whoever it wants. It needs nothing. It decides overnight. It never even sees the person it wants; it vaporizes them. A bizarre mechanism.”

Claiming that the period before 2019 was not considered within the scope of the investigation, İmamoğlu argued that certain people whom he said were close to the government and President Erdoğan were not included in the file as witnesses or complainants. Stating that the statement of a person who he said transferred his properties in Acarkent to a family member close to the President was not taken, İmamoğlu said, “Well, what kind of a chamber of rights and law will you produce here, I ask? Mr. President, esteemed panel, I am asking. There is a violation of people’s rights here, people’s rights.”

İmamoğlu, who said, “Four worker drivers named by a driver were imprisoned for months, for months,” continued as follows: “Investigation according to the person, indictment according to those close to him. Dual law—they have written the book of law, dual law. Those who wrote this book will one day certainly be held accountable for that book before the supreme Turkish judiciary. ”

“HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF A FUND BUREAUCRAT BEING TAKEN FROM HIS HOME?”

Bringing up the detention of journalist Murat Ağırel, İmamoğlu argued that the same action was not taken against the people he said were involved in transactions worth billions of liras.İmamoğlu asked, “So, have you ever heard of a fund-linked politician being taken from his home so far? Have you heard of a fund-linked politician taken from his home, carrying away billions? Have you heard of a fund-linked bureaucrat?”

“HE IS NO LONGER AN EXPERT WITNESS, BUT A CLERK”

Asserting that the prosecutor’s office’s letter dated April 10, 2025 asked expert witnesses to identify irregularities in the tenders, but did not ask whether there was any irregularity, İmamoğlu said, “‘Was there an irregularity?’ was not asked. It says, ‘There is an irregularity, identify them.’ Would you look at the letter? If an expert witness is told in advance what he will find, he is no longer an expert witness but a clerk, a clerk! It means, ‘Write what you are told, my girl; write what you are told, my boy.’”

Noting that in the reports, the merging of works was assessed as “restriction of competition” and the splitting of them as “disruption of integrity,” İmamoğlu said, “Merging is a crime, splitting is a crime; what is right? The report does not say. Because what is sought is not the truth.”

“810 LIRA IN MONEY WAS RECORDED IN THE INDICTMENT AS 810,000 LIRA”

İmamoğlu claimed that in the approximate cost calculation, the not-yet-announced April inflation was sought, that an announced price was considered confidential information, and that a public company putting fuel from its own tanker into its own work was written as “free fuel.” He said these procedures had been applied before as well and had passed Court of Accounts audits.

Claiming that a report on a digital museum purchase was prepared by touring the museum area for less than an hour, İmamoğlu noted that in another expert witness report a lower cost was identified for the same purchases and said, “One report says ‘loss,’ the other says ‘cheaper.’ In your opinion, which one was taken as the basis here, the loss? Because it is a crime. They said, ‘You will write crime.’”

İmamoğlu claimed that a money movement of 810 lira detected in an examination by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) of a defendant was recorded in the indictment as 810,000 lira. Saying that the expert witness who prepared the report on advertising tenders was later elected to the Court of Accounts membership by a vote in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, İmamoğlu said, “Two facts are placed side by side; let the nation read the rest. Let the nation read the rest.”

“THE MENTALITY THAT PRIORITIZES PEOPLE, NOT PROFIT, IS WANTED TO BE PUNISHED”

Criticizing the inclusion of the Şişli, Beylikdüzü, and Beyoğlu municipalities in the file as well, İmamoğlu said, “The mentality that protects its city, prioritizes people rather than profit, and takes an uncompromising stand against urban crime is wanted to be punished.” Asserting that there were inconsistencies in the dates of some money movements in the indictment and that the allegations were based on statements such as “I felt,” “I had heard,” and “they say/hearsay,” İmamoğlu said the following:

“Aid was provided in Hatay for earthquake victims. The prosecution asks. ‘Do you give aid to every institution that comes before you?’ The institution referred to as coming before you is the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Turkey’s largest public institution.”

“HEY OPPONENTS, UNITE”

Calling on opponents to unite, İmamoğlu said, “Hey opponents, hey my dear people who represent 80 percent of society, be united, come together, stand shoulder to shoulder, be a crowd, show your reaction. This is a great obliviousness. This is the attitude displayed by those who covet all your rights, your legal rights, your right to information, your rights in the cities, everything you have, your right to vote and be elected, your right to change a government.”