Erdogan Opponent Receives Sentence for Insult

(MENAFN) Ekrem Imamoglu, previously the mayor of Istanbul and a significant opponent to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has received a 20-month prison term for allegedly directing an insult at a public prosecutor, according to local press accounts.

The legal action originates from statements Imamoglu is said to have made following a police operation at the residence of a youth leader affiliated with his opposition group, the Republican People’s Party (CHP).

The prominent politician is reported to have declared that Istanbul’s chief prosecutor, Akin Gurlek, possessed a “rotten” mind.

The sentence was issued on Wednesday at the heavily guarded Silivri judicial and correctional facility near Istanbul, a venue frequently used for trials of a political nature.

At the same time, Imamoglu was cleared of a separate accusation of targeting officials participating in counterterror efforts.

The 55-year-old ex-mayor has remained detained since March as he awaits legal proceedings in a different corruption case.

Imamoglu has dismissed all claims, asserting that the charges are driven by political motives with the aim of obstructing his possible candidacy against Erdogan in the 2028 presidential contest.

The administration, however, maintains that the judiciary operates autonomously and denies any form of political meddling.

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