Turkey Seeks Jail Sentence of Over 2,000 Years for Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu

Prosecutors allege leadership of a criminal network

The public prosecutors in Turkey have filed a massive criminal case against Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul. According to the indictment, İmamoğlu is accused of heading an organized crime group that allegedly misused municipal resources and engaged in illicit financial activities. The charges span a wide range of offenses, including fraud, money‑laundering, and abuse of power.

Potential sentence exceeds two millennia

If convicted on all counts, the cumulative prison term could surpass 2,000 years. While such a figure is symbolic—no individual can serve more than a few decades—it underscores the severity with which the authorities are presenting the case.

Opposition decries a politically motivated prosecution

The opposition parties and many of İmamoğlu’s supporters have condemned the lawsuit, calling it a clear attempt to silence a popular figure who won the 2023 mayoral race against the ruling party’s candidate. They argue that the timing and scale of the charges are designed to undermine the credibility of the Istanbul administration and to send a warning to other dissenting officials.

International reactions and next steps

Several international observers have expressed concern over the potential erosion of democratic norms in Turkey. Human‑rights groups warned that the case could set a dangerous precedent for using the judiciary as a tool of political repression.

The trial is scheduled to begin later this year, and both legal experts and political analysts will be watching closely to see how the proceedings unfold and what impact they may have on Turkey’s broader political landscape.