Türkische Justiz: Erdogan-Rivale Imamoglu zu zwei Jahren Haft verurteilt

Turkish authorities have sentenced former Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to 25 months in prison. The ruling comes in a highly controversial legal battle where Imamoglu is accused of offending a government official. If the verdict is final, Imamoglu will lose his official position and the Istanbul City Council would be tasked with selecting a new mayor for the bustling metropolis.

Imamoglu, a vocal critic of Erdogan, was previously incarcerated and is widely seen as a potential successor to the long-serving president. However, his current legal predicament raises questions about his ability to continue challenging the powerful leader, given the numerous investigations, trials, and rulings against him.

Imamoglu described the verdict as a scandal and called the accusations baseless. He was accused of insulting an Istanbul district mayor four years ago, although he had been acquitted twice before, when a court reopened the case due to alleged procedural errors. The Turkish opposition claims that the proceedings are politically motivated and aimed at eliminating Erdogan's rival.

Both the European Union and the German government have criticized the recent wave of arrests, including Imamoglu and several of his fellow city officials. This comes after a nationwide crackdown in March 2025, targeting not only Imamoglu but also mayors of other Turkish cities accused of corruption, money laundering, and criminal associations.

The Turkish government insists that there is no influence from Erdogan's administration on the judiciary.