Pro-government columnist claims appeals court upheld İstanbul mayor's political ban

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• In December, the mayor of İstanbul received a prison sentence and a political ban

• Following Kılıçdaroğlu's defeat to Erdoğan in the presidential election, some of İmamoğlu's remarks have been interpreted as his intention to replace him as the leader of the CHP

• Columnist Abdülkadir Selvi alleges that İmamoğlu believes that if he assumes the position of CHP leader, the appeals court might not uphold his sentence

• İmamoğlu's lawyer has refuted these claims

A columnist known for his close ties to the government has claimed that an appeals court had upheld the prison sentence and political ban given to İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in December.

According to Abdülkadir Selvi, the mayor hinted at his potential candidacy for the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) immediately after Sunday's presidential runoff vote, anticipating that his sentence would be upheld. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the CHP leader and the opposition's presidential candidate, lost to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the election.

"I can't verify how true this is. It is said that İmamoğlu thought, 'If I become subject to a political ban, I won't be able to run for İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor again. If I become the CHP's leader before the decision becomes final, they can't ban the leader of the main opposition party.' That's why they say he acted hastily," Selvi wrote in the article published today in the daily Hürriyet.

"Even if there is confirmation from the Court of Appeals, there is still the option of the Court of Cassation. İmamoğlu might have thought, 'If the Court of Cassation confirms it within 6-7 months, I won't be able to run'."

İmamoğlu's messages

Some of İmamoğlu's comments after Kılıçdaroğlu's defeat to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Sunday's presidential runoff vote were interpreted as his desire to replace Kılıçdaroğlu as the CHP leader.

In a video message released the morning after the election, İmamoğlu said, "We won't keep doing the same things and expecting different results." During his speech at the İstanbul Conquest celebrations on the same day, he also said, "The only thing that remains constant is change."

Gerçek Gündem, a news website close to the CHP, reached out to İmamoğlu's lawyer, Kemal Polat, to inquire about Selvi's claims. Polat stated, "We are aware of the matter. The case is still ongoing. There is no information in the judiciary's integrated system either. In our conversation, it was stated that there has been no progress."

Murat Ongun, an advisor to İmamoğlu, commented on Selvi's article, stating that it reflected his personal thoughts. Ongun said, "As of today, there has been no decision from the Court of Appeals. The information presented as an allegation is a manipulative and timely example of sensational journalism.

"The legal process is not concluded with the Court of Appeals' decision. Even if the decision is unfavorable, there is still a lengthy process at the Court of Cassation. We are aware of the author's intention and the objective of this speculation."

What happened?

On October 30, 2019, İmamoğlu attended the Council of Europe's Local and Regional Authorities Congress held in Strasbourg, France, as the mayor of the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

During his speech at the congress, İmamoğlu stated that before the 2019 local elections, public resources had been unlimitedly used in favor of the ruling party, divisive and polarizing language had been used throughout the election period, and the president and cabinet members had engaged in actions and practices disregarding election propaganda bans. He also mentioned that the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) had attempted to manipulate election results.

İmamoğlu argued that the ruling party sought to win by canceling the results of the election March 31. İmamoğlu had won the rerun held about three months later, ending the ruling party and its predecessors' 25-year rule in the metropolis.

On November 4, 2019, Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu said, "I say to the fool who goes to the European Parliament and complains about Turkey: This nation will make you pay a price."

On the same day, İmamoğlu responded to Süleyman Soylu's comments, saying, "Those who canceled the election on March 31 are the fools. They should focus on that first."

As a result, on November 15, 2019, the Supreme Election Council (YSK) filed an application with the İstanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. A prosecution was initiated against İmamoğlu, and an indictment was prepared.

The indictment accused İmamoğlu of insulting the then chair of the Supreme Election Council, Sadi Güven, and 10 members of the Supreme Election Council in a chain manner. The indictment demanded a prison sentence ranging from 1 year, 3 months, and 15 days to 4 years and 1 month, as well as a political ban.

The verdict was issued on December 14, 2022, sentencing İmamoğlu to 2 years, 7 months, and 15 days in prison. Additionally, a political ban was imposed. İmamoğlu appealed the decision.

(HA/VK)