Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: 22 Palestinians were injured by Israeli occupation gunfire east of Gaza Strip
Palestinian Ministry of Health: 14 Palestinians were injured by Israeli occupation gunfire near the Israeli-erected fence east of Gaza Strip
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Seven Palestinians were injured by Israeli occupation gunfire east of Gaza Strip
Sources to Al Mayadeen: Israeli occupation prison administration transfers hunger-striking prisoner Kayed al-Fafsous to solitary confinement in Asqalan prison
Head of Crimea: Russian air defenses shot down cruise missiles over Crimea.
Sevastopol Governor: Another attack on city still possible.
Governor of Russia's Sevastopol: Headquarters of Russia's Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol comes under missile strike.
Chinese President: Beijing ready to develop cooperation with Syria and for joint defense of international justice amid instability.
Chinese President Xi Jinping while receiving his Syrian counterpart: China and Syria moving toward announcing strategic partnerships.
Algerian Foreign Minister: Africa's Sahel region has become a focal point for terrorist armies armed with the latest weapons, and in control of a large geographical region.

'Insults' land Istanbul mayor 3 years in prison, ban from politics

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Dec 2022 19:03
  • 1 Shares

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was sentenced to two years and seven-and-a-half months in jail on the charge of "insulting" public officials.

  • Istanbul's popular opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu
    Istanbul's popular opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu

A Turkish court on Wednesday sentenced Istanbul's popular opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu to nearly three years in jail in a politically charged trial that effectively bars him from standing in next year's presidential election.

Imamoglu's team immediately vowed to appeal against his conviction in a case stemming from a remark he made after defeating President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ally in a hugely controversial 2019 mayoral vote.

People who are sentenced to less than four years are rarely put behind bars in Turkey. But Imamoglu's conviction for defamation disqualifies him from politics for the duration of the sentence.

He will continue serving as Istanbul Mayor while his appeal makes its way through the courts.

"This is a pathetic approach to democracy and the rule of law," Imamoglu's lawyer Kemal Polat told AFP.

The trial focused on an offhand remark Imamoglu made to reporters a few months after defeating Erdogan's ally in a re-run election held after his first victory was annulled.

Related News

Baghdad intends to summon Turkish envoy after Monday's drone attack

US might be punishing Turkey for its position on Ukraine, Russia: RS

Officials reported discovering hundreds of thousands of "suspicious votes" after Erdogan refused to acknowledge Imamoglu's initial win in a city that he himself ran before entering national politics two decades ago.

The decision backfired badly on Erdogan's party. Waves of protests and huge support from all political corners delivered Imamoglu an overwhelming victory in a re-run vote held that June.

Imamoglu let his frustration at the entire episode spill over a few months later by calling the people who annulled the first vote "idiots".

An Istanbul court sentenced Imamoglu to two years and seven-and-a-half months in prison on the charge of "insulting" public officials.

It also applied a separate clause of the penal code that bars the Mayor from politics.

The Istanbul Mayor is among a handful of opposition leaders that polls show could beat Erdogan in a head-to-head race in next June's presidential vote.

Read more: Turkish opposition leader stabbed at party HQs in Ankara

  • Turkey
  • Ekrem Imamoglu
  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan
  • Ankara
  • Istanbul

Most Read

Ukrainian soldiers ride an APC on the front line near Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region, on June 5, 2023 (AP)

US sees Ukrainian army demoralized, no chance to win: Seymour Hersh

  • Europe
  • 21 Sep 2023
Ukraine lost around 85% of its initial mobilized force: Field general

Ukraine lost around 85% of its initial mobilized force: Field general

  • Europe
  • 16 Sep 2023
'Israel's' railroad network targeted by cyberattack: Israeli media

'Israel's' railroad network targeted by cyberattack: Israeli media

  • Palestine
  • 16 Sep 2023
Old habits, linger … linger well past the time when old rituals (an Israeli PM visit to the Oval Office) had agency and the world hung on the outcome. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Arwa Makki)

Will a tripartite US-Saudi-Israeli ‘Deal’ make Any difference?

  • Opinion
  • 16 Sep 2023

Coverage

All
Morocco & Libya Disasters

Read Next

All
CAR leader blames West's 'plundering' of Africa for migrant crisis
Africa

West's pillage of Africa natural resources behind migrant crisis: CAR

US to strengthen border control with 800 additional troops.
US & Canada

US to fortify southern border control with 800 additional troops

French politican calls for stopping weapon shipments to Kiev
Europe

French politician demands no more weapons shipments to Kiev

France and Germany at odds once again over US arms
Europe

US arms purchases has France, Germany at odds, again

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS