Istanbul's mayor goes on trial with 400 others in effort to remove him from politics'

"A mass trial of 400 people including the jailed mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, has opened in Turkey in a sprawling corruption case critics say is a politically motivated attempt to scupper his chances of challenging Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the presidency. Hundreds of former and current employees of the Istanbul municipality are due to give evidence, including more than 106 people already in jail."

"Imamoglu, the mayor of Turkey's largest city, was arrested last year during a raid on his home, shortly after announcing his intention to run for president on behalf of the country's largest opposition party, the Republican People's party (CHP). After declaring his intention to run for president, Istanbul University annulled Imamoglu's diploma, a requirement to run for Turkey's highest office."

"After his election in 2019, Imamoglu quickly rose to become Erdogan's nemesis, occupying a position the president once held and rising in political stature to challenge him on the national stage. His arrest sent shockwaves through Turkish society, sparking nightly mass protests around the municipality building that contained his office where hundreds were detained."

A mass trial of 400 people, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, has begun in Turkey on corruption and organized crime charges centered on his office. Imamoglu was arrested after announcing his presidential candidacy for the opposition Republican People's Party. Over 106 defendants are already jailed, with hundreds of former and current municipality employees expected to testify. Critics contend the prosecution is politically motivated to eliminate Imamoglu as a challenger to President Erdogan. After his 2019 election, Imamoglu became Erdogan's prominent political rival. Following his presidential announcement, Istanbul University annulled his diploma, a requirement for candidacy. His arrest sparked widespread protests and detention of hundreds. The CHP symbolically nominated him as their presidential candidate despite his incarceration.

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