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Six year legal fight: how Istanbul's mayor became Erdogan's prime target


//politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. anbul-s-mayor-became-erdogan-s-prime-target.html
Published in Politics and Government on by Reuters   Print publication without navigation

It was around six years ago, when newcomer Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu called election board officials "idiots" for cancelling his initial victory at the polls, that President Tayyip Erdogan noticed him as a serious political threat.

The article from Reuters details the political and legal battle between Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Imamoglu, a prominent figure in Turkey's opposition, has been embroiled in a six-year legal fight that began when he was mayor of Beylikduzu and escalated after his election as Istanbul mayor in 2019. His victory was a significant blow to Erdogan's AK Party, leading to a rerun election which Imamoglu also won. The legal challenges against him include a conviction for insulting public officials, which resulted in a political ban, although this was later overturned. Recently, he faces new charges of rigging a public tender from his time as Beylikduzu mayor, which could potentially lead to a seven-year prison sentence. This ongoing legal battle is seen as part of Erdogan's strategy to neutralize a key political rival ahead of the 2024 local elections, where control over Istanbul, Turkey's economic and cultural heart, is at stake. The case has drawn international attention, with critics arguing it exemplifies the erosion of judicial independence in Turkey under Erdogan's rule.

Read the Full Reuters Article at:
[ https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/six-year-legal-fight-how-istanbuls-mayor-became-erdogans-prime-target-2025-03-24/ ]

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