Today in Silivri the first hearing of the case filed against the arrested mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu is taking place.

The hearing, overseen by Istanbul's 14th High Criminal Court, began at 11:20 local time, France 24 reported.

The prison complex where Imamoglu is being held is considered the most modern in the country and the largest in Europe.  

He is accused of “targeting individuals involved in counter-terrorism efforts” but that is not the main case against him.

If found guilty, Imamoglu could be sentenced to up to seven years and four months in prison. Prosecutors also want to strip him of his voting and candidacy rights and bar him from holding public office.

People's Republican Party (CHP) deputy chairman Gökhan Günaydın announced the change of venue, saying:

"The trial of Ekrem Imamoglu, originally scheduled for 11 April 2025 at the Kaglayan court, has been moved to courtroom No. 2 at the open-air prison in Silivri. I remember this courtroom from the Ergenekon trials. The beginning of the film is the same - and the end will be the same".

“The fact that Ekrem's trial has been moved to a courtroom that is symbolic of the show trials of the past is extremely telling,” said NRP leader Özgür Özel.

The People's Republican Party (CHP) accuses long-serving President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of trying to eliminate his main rival to consolidate his power. Imamoglu is seen as the favourite in Turkey's next presidential election in 2028.

Nearly 2,000 people, including students, were arrested in the crackdown on protests - Turkey's biggest in a decade - following Imamoglu's arrest on 19 March. | BGNES