10.03.2026 19:41
The second day of the trial involving 407 defendants against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has been completed. The hearing, held at the Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court in Silivri, experienced occasional tensions, and the defense statements of the detained defendants began to be taken. The court panel announced that the hearings, expected to continue until April, will be adjourned on the eve of the Ramadan Feast.
The second day of the trial of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) case, which includes CHP's presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu among 407 defendants, has been completed. In the case heard in the 1st courtroom opposite the Marmara Closed Prison by the Istanbul 40th Heavy Penal Court, a total of 407 defendants, including 107 in custody, were tried, while the presiding judge Selçuk Aylan stated that the hearings would be adjourned starting from the eve of Ramadan Bayram.
STARTED WITH A PROTEST BY LAWYERS
The second day of the trial began with a brief discussion due to the lawyers being asked to undergo identity checks for the second time to enter the courtroom. Some lawyers protesting the practice held a demonstration at the entrance of the courtroom. The tension was resolved when the President of the Istanbul Bar Association, İbrahim Kaboğlu, intervened, and the lawyers were allowed into the courtroom.
IMAMOĞLU'S ARRIVAL IN THE COURTROOM
Ekrem İmamoğlu arrived in the courtroom holding a book titled "Entrusted to the Nation." During İmamoğlu's entrance, slogans were chanted by the audience.
During the trial, the security personnel attempted to place İmamoğlu in a security circle in front of the podium and to seat him separately from the other defendants, which caused a brief tension in the courtroom. While İmamoğlu reacted to the practice, some detained defendants also stood up.
During the trial, Ekrem İmamoğlu was given the floor. İmamoğlu stated, "I am the presidential candidate of the first party of this country. I am here as the presidential candidate of a party expected to come to power in the next election. Preventing a person like me from speaking creates a serious problem in terms of a trial followed all over the world, not just in this courtroom."
İmamoğlu addressed the court, saying, "Allow my friends to return to their homes during Ramadan. If the issue of this system is with me, I am here. I am ready to participate in the trial and make my defense. However, these people should be tried without detention."
DEFENSES HAVE STARTED TO BE TAKEN
The defenses of the detained defendants have started to be taken in the trial. The first defense was made by former CHP Deputy Aykut Erdoğdu. According to the order of defenses, Murat Ongun will defend in the 103rd position, and Ekrem İmamoğlu will defend in the 105th position. Fatih Keleş is last in line.
THE TRIAL WILL BE ADJOURNED FOR THE HOLIDAY
Presiding Judge Selçuk Aylan also provided information on how the hearings would continue. Aylan stated that the statements of the lawyers would be taken after each detained defendant and that the hearings would be adjourned starting from the eve of Ramadan Bayram.
It is expected that the hearings will continue until April, and accordingly, a decision will be made at the end of April regarding the evaluation of detention.
INVESTIGATION INTO TRIAL FOOTAGE
On the other hand, it was reported that the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has initiated an investigation regarding the sharing of footage taken in the courtroom on social media. It was learned that the prosecutor's office instructed the Cyber Crime Department of the Istanbul Police Department to identify the individuals who shared the footage.