From İmamoğlu's last defense: A criminal charge that was fabricated from scratch

An investigation has been launched against the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) and CHP's presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is currently being held in Silivri Prison, on charges of "insulting a public official" due to his comments against prosecutors in his statement on March 23.

İmamoğlu gave his statement through the investigation Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS).

His lawyer, Mehmet Pehlivan, shared the highlights of İmamoğlu's statement on his social media account.

My client, Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu, gave his statement today from Silivri Prison via SEGBİS within the scope of the “insulting a public official” investigation launched against him ex officio due to his defenses during the interrogation by the judge to whom he was referred on March 23 on charges of aiding a terrorist organization.…

— Mehmet Pehlivan (@mehmettpehlivan) May 14, 2025

The highlights of İmamoğlu's statement in Pehlivan's post are as follows:

* The real context of this investigation has taken shape against a backdrop of long-standing judicial harassment and where legitimate political competition has given way to slander and perception management operations.

* The person who said, “Whoever loses Istanbul loses Türkiye” during the election process, realized that this loss was against his power, and thus, he used illegal means to turn public power into a political tool and tried to postpone his inevitable end.

* I learned at the police station that the accusation against me was that a meeting with an executive of a political party with a group in Parliament was described as aiding a terrorist organization. Is it possible to legally explain why they described meetings with an executive of a legal party with a group in Parliament as terrorist activity?

* When the interrogation at the judge's office began, I saw that questions that had never been asked to me before, both during my testimony before the police and the prosecutor, and a lot of visuals and maps related to the terrorist organization, as well as statements from terrorist organization leaders, were added to the document.

"THIS IS CALLED POLITICAL AMBUSH"

* How should we characterize this behavior of public officials who are obliged to act impartially and independently while performing their jobs and who exercise authority on behalf of the Turkish Nation? Of course, this is called a conspiracy, of course, this is called a political ambush.

* When I appeared for questioning by the judge, not only justice but also my mind and conscience were questioned with the documents presented to me. Allegations, maps, visuals and statements of organizations that had not been mentioned before, and that had not been directed at me either by the police or the prosecutor's office, were added to the file. This picture was a clear indication that I was faced with a criminal charge that had been constructed from scratch, not a trial.

* Trying to associate me with a serious and dishonorable crime such as aiding a terrorist organization is not only an unlawful attempt, but also a discrediting operation targeting my life, my work, and my sense of responsibility towards my nation.

"THE CONSCIENCE OF THIS NATION BELIEFS IN TRUTH, NOT FICTION"

* I did not insult the families, private lives or honor of individuals. I brought criticism on behalf of the public against those who abused their public office and interfered with politics.

* I know very well that they are trying to judge not me, but the values ​​I represent and the will of the nation. However, there is one thing they have forgotten: The conscience of this nation believes in truth, not fiction.

Source: News Center