Turkish Opposition Leader İmamoğlu Faces Intensified Trials and Prolonged Detention

Ekrem İmamoğlu, a prominent rival to President Erdoğan, remains imprisoned as trials over alleged threats and fraud proceed, raising concerns about judicial fairness and political motivations.

Ekrem İmamoğlu, former Istanbul mayor and opposition leader, appeared in court on charges of threatening a state prosecutor, with the next hearing set for June 16.
A second trial, involving alleged fraud during his tenure as a district mayor in 2015, has been postponed to July 11, with İmamoğlu not attending the proceedings in person.
Prosecutors are seeking up to 7 years in prison and a political ban in both cases, which critics argue are politically motivated to neutralize İmamoğlu as Erdoğan's key challenger.
The trials are being held in a remote Silivri venue, drawing criticism for limiting public access and transparency, further fueling concerns about judicial independence.
İmamoğlu, who has been in custody since March 19 on unrelated corruption and terrorism charges, continues to assert his innocence and highlight his electoral victories as a mandate of public support.