İmamoğlu Sentenced to 1 Year and 8 Months in Prison for Insult and Threat Charges

Dressed in a grey suit and carrying a blue file under his arm, İmamoğlu greeted the courtroom before taking his seat on the defendant's bench. He was met with applause and chants from supporters, including “President İmamoğlu,” “No salvation alone,” and “Ekrem Başkan.”

The hearing drew significant attention. It was attended by Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel, İmamoğlu’s wife Dilek and son Selim, Istanbul Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan, CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik, party vice chairs Suat Özçağdaş and Gül Çiftçi, parliamentary group leader Gökhan Günaydın, MPs Ali Gökçek and Sezgin Tanrıkulu, Party Assembly member Berkay Gezgin, Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş, Istanbul Bar Association President İbrahim Kaboğlu, and Union of Turkish Bar Associations President Erdinç Sağkan. Consular representatives from nine countries, including Canada, Austria, and the Czech Republic, were also present.

Court Delivers Verdict

The court acquitted İmamoğlu of the charge of “targeting a public official.” However, it sentenced him to 2 months and 15 days for threats and 1 year and 5 months for insulting a public official, amounting to a total sentence of 1 year and 8 months.

Tense Moments in Courtroom

Tensions rose during the hearing when İmamoğlu directed his remarks toward the prosecutor, prompting the prosecutor to say, “Don’t speak toward me.” İmamoğlu replied, “Is it forbidden to look at the prosecutor?” and turned to the judge, asking, “Is it forbidden to look at him?” As the courtroom grew tense, İmamoğlu added, “Could you please clarify, Your Honor? I'm trying to understand whether I’m being tried or not,” which was met with applause from the audience.

In his defense, İmamoğlu stated, “I am not thinking about the next election, but the next generations. I will continue this struggle as a soldier against evil and wrongdoers. I stand tall.”

After his lawyers concluded their defense, İmamoğlu delivered a final statement:
“In this blessed land, if I am a threat to one person, it’s not me — it is the people who are a threat to them. I have defeated them four times at the ballot box, and I will defeat them a fifth.”