Ekrem Imamoglu is considered a big future name in the old power party CHP and has been the subject of a number of legal cases. His supporters and other critical voices regard these as politically motivated to keep Imamoglu away from top politics.
While the court held a two-hour long interrogation with the mayor, riot police used tear gas to disperse thousands of people who had gathered outside.
The 53-year-old Imamoglu was elected mayor of Turkey's largest city in 2019, which was then seen as a blow to President Erdogan's power base. Erdogan's party AKP claimed that there were irregularities in the election, which was then re-held. Ekrem Imamoglu won again.
The ongoing court case concerns Imamoglu's alleged insulting statements about high-ranking prosecutors. He was convicted in a similar case in 2022, which could result in a ban on his political activities, but the verdict has been appealed to the Supreme Court.
Today's case is a case about justice, a case about striving for rights and justice. Unfortunately, today's question stems from a plot directed against Istanbul, said Imamoglu when he appeared before supporters at another location after Friday morning's court hearing.
