A Turkish court on Wednesday sentenced Istanbul’s popular opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, to one year and eight months in prison after finding him guilty of “threatening” the city’s chief prosecutor, marking the latest in a string of politically charged cases targeting the opposition.

While the sentence falls short of triggering an immediate political ban, it adds to mounting legal pressure against Imamoglu, who remains one of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s most prominent rivals. Imamoglu is expected to appeal the verdict, and under Turkish law, the sentence will not go into effect until all legal avenues are exhausted. Prison terms under two years are often converted into fines.

The 55-year-old mayor, affiliated with the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has denied the charges and accused the judiciary of serving political interests. He has been detained since March over a separate case, just days before he was expected to announce a presidential bid.

Authorities further undermined his eligibility by revoking his university degree, a legal prerequisite for running for the presidency, one day before his planned announcement.

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Imamoglu rises to the spotlight

Imamoglu rose to national prominence after winning control of Istanbul in 2019, defeating Erdogan’s handpicked candidate in a rerun of the mayoral race. His victory in Turkey’s largest city made him a leading contender to challenge the ruling party’s grip on power.

Since then, Erdogan’s government has launched legal proceedings against dozens of CHP mayors, many on corruption charges that critics claim are politically motivated. Several mayors have already been removed or jailed. CHP leader Ozgur Ozel is also under investigation for allegedly insulting the president and threatening public officials after publicly condemning the recent arrests.

The party has denounced the actions as part of a wider campaign to suppress dissent and dismantle democratic institutions. 

Widespread demonstrations across Turkey

The March 19 arrest of Imamoglu, the main political rival to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, triggered the largest street protests the country has seen in decades.

Since then, police have detained dozens of individuals in raids tied to the corruption probes. Among those arrested are Imamoglu’s private secretary and his protection officer.