08.07.2026 15:30
In the 64th hearing of the İBB case, where 414 defendants, including 59 detainees, are being tried, Ekrem İmamoğlu, who approached the bench, was removed from the courtroom after a dispute with the court president over the duration of his defense. Describing the allotted time as a "violation of rights," İmamoğlu was met with the court president's response, "This is not a place for you to judge." As the SEGBİS system was turned off and he was being removed from the hall, İmamoğlu protested to the panel, saying, "I did not come to defend, but to judge."
The trial regarding the corruption allegations against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) continues. The 61st hearing of the trial, which has been ongoing for two months, was held today. Tensions ran high during the 64th hearing of the case involving 414 defendants, 59 of whom are detained, including Ekrem Imamoglu, who was suspended from his post as IMM President.
Imamoglu was removed from the courtroom after a dispute with the court president over claims that his defense time was restricted. As tensions escalated in the hall, the court panel ordered the SEGBIS audio and video recording system to be shut down.
DEFENSE TIME DISPUTE: RESTRICTING EKREM IMAMOGLU HARMS YOU, YOUR BENCH, AND THE TURKISH JUDICIARY
The hearing began tensely in the morning when the defense of Nergiz Ince, lawyer of IMM Sports Club President Fatih Keles, was cut off. After the lunch break, Ekrem Imamoglu took the podium to respond to the allegations against him, claiming that the trial was being rushed to a conclusion. Stating that in previous hearings it was mentioned the schedule might extend to August 10, but suddenly July 9 was decided, Imamoglu argued that he was given only a few hours for his defense, describing this as a "serious violation of rights."
Addressing the court president, Imamoglu emphasized an unjust double standard against him, saying, "Umit Ozdag gave a full-day defense for insulting the President, my dear Selahattin Demirtas is unfortunately not released, he gave a 14-day defense without interruption."
Stressing that the defense text could not be interfered with, Imamoglu stated, "Restricting Ekrem Imamoglu harms you, your bench, and the Turkish judiciary. I do not care about your decision; you will be left alone with it, but the Turkish judiciary will be harmed. You will not decide what I will speak today; I determine the text."
COURT PRESIDENT: EITHER YOU MAKE A DEFENSE OR EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT
The Court President clearly stated that no flexibility would be made in the schedule, responding to Imamoglu, "We will not change the rules. We will finish the trial on our determined schedule. Whether you make a defense is your discretion. Either you make a defense or exercise your right to remain silent. If you will not use your right to remain silent, we will receive your defense." Arguing that the prosecution had not presented a single concrete piece of evidence in 63 hearings, Imamoglu recalled the historic 36th NATO Summit in Ankara and asked, "How can you explain silencing Ekrem Imamoglu in such an environment?"
IMAMOGLU REMOVED FROM THE COURTROOM
Nerves frayed as Imamoglu intensified his criticisms. The court president said, "As the panel, we did not cause the hearings to prolong. This is not a place for you to judge; you came to be judged," and ordered the gendarmerie to remove Imamoglu from the courtroom.
"THOSE I WILL JUDGE IN ANKARA ARE TRYING TO INTERVENE WITH THOSE JUDGING HERE"
Following this decision, protest chants rose in the hall, and Ekrem Imamoglu was escorted out by the gendarmerie. Turning back to address the court panel, Imamoglu said, "Those I will judge in Ankara are trying to intervene with those judging here. The Ministry of Justice is a ministry of collapse. I came not to make a defense, but to judge."