05.06.2026 11:01
Ekrem İmamoğlu was taken back to prison after approximately 60 kilometers due to a 'vehicle malfunction' while being transported from Silivri to the Istanbul Anatolian Courthouse for the defamation case against Şadi Yazıcı. İmamoğlu, who attended the hearing via SEGBIS, claimed the incident was deliberate and that he was prevented from attending the hearing, alleging psychological torture. The court stated that they were informed of the vehicle malfunction. The hearing was postponed to September 11.
Detained Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was taken from Silivri to be brought to the Istanbul Anatolian Courthouse in Kartal as part of the case where he is being tried for allegedly insulting former Tuzla mayor Şadi Yılmaz, was returned to Silivri 60 kilometers after setting off, being told "The car broke down."
İmamoğlu said, "I was taken out of Silivri at 07:25. I was turned back being told 'The car broke down.' I will tell everyone how much I suffered. I was sent back being told the car broke down."
"WHY ARE WE RETURNING WITH A BROKEN CAR?"
İmamoğlu described what happened with these words: "At 07:20 I was taken from the ward and at 07:30 I was taken out of the prison. After traveling 60 kilometers, the vehicle stopped. The hood was opened and checked, then the vehicle started to turn back. It was said that the vehicle had broken down and that's why we were returning. I said, 'Wait a minute, what are you doing? If it broke down, why are we returning? How can returning with a broken car be a solution?' I said I did not believe the vehicle was actually broken. I said, 'Do not use either the Turkish soldier or the driver as a tool for this wrongdoing.'"
"I WAS SUBJECTED TO SERIOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL TORTURE"
I said this was shameful, pitiful, and a sin. I objected, I raised my voice. Then they closed the door and put me back in the vehicle and took me back to the prison. Because a chief prosecutor's ego would be hurt, because of a chief prosecutor's attitude aimed at preventing my fair trial, an order was given at midnight or in the morning hours, and a setup was made to prevent me from coming to the courtroom. This setup was executed, and I have been subjected to serious psychological torture.
This is not the first time, nor will it be the last. What happened today is a historic persecution, torture. I request from your court that action be taken against those who caused this torture. I want to urgently meet with my lawyers about this. This is a deliberate torture. I am being subjected to live torture. Also, I was lied to. By saying it was a vehicle breakdown, the soldiers and commanders of this country were used as tools for a chief prosecutor's order. I was given false information."
"A SETUP WAS MADE TO PREVENT ME FROM APPEARING BEFORE THE JUDICIARY"
İmamoğlu attended the hearing via SEGBIS. İmamoğlu, who rebelled against the judge during the hearing, said, "While I was on my way from Silivri to appear before the judge, I was turned back after 60 kilometers being told the car broke down." İmamoğlu said about the events, "A setup was made to prevent me from appearing before the judiciary."
RESPONSE FROM THE TRIAL JUDGE
The trial judge gave the following response: "As we did for all other defendants, we wrote a letter for you to be present here. A letter came last night saying you could not be brought. However, I contacted the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, despite that, preparations were made for you to be brought this morning, but the process could not be carried out because the vehicle broke down."
DECIDED NOT TO MAKE A DEFENSE
It was reported that after the events before the hearing, İmamoğlu decided not to make his defense. The hearing was adjourned to September 11. A writ was written for İmamoğlu to be present at the hearing.