Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has accused court expert S.B., who oversees cases involving him and other CHP-led municipalities, of bias and misconduct. During a press conference held in Saraçhane, İmamoğlu claimed that S.B. fabricated details in reports from his tenure as Mayor of Beylikdüzü and consistently targeted him and CHP institutions in investigations.
İmamoğlu also alleged that S.B. was involved in probes concerning the CHP-led municipalities of Beşiktaş and Esenyurt. These allegations prompted the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office to open an investigation into İmamoğlu for allegedly “publicly targeting the investigator to influence the investigation.”
Following the press conference, İmamoğlu took to social media, stating, “We will share every injustice and every unlawful act committed against us with the Turkish people.” He demanded a swift investigation into the allegations he had presented, warning against censorship of the media reporting on the issue.
Meanwhile, S.B. denied İmamoğlu’s claims during an interview with Halk TV’s Barış Pehlivan, calling the allegations false and asserting that he had worked on cases involving various political parties, including AKP and MHP municipalities.
Political Reactions and Tensions
The accusations have triggered political backlash. AKP Deputy Chair Hamza Dağ criticized İmamoğlu’s statements, calling them “unacceptable irresponsibility” and accusing him of attempting to undermine judicial impartiality.
The controversy coincides with broader tensions between the ruling AKP and the opposition CHP. İmamoğlu named his press conference “The Big Secret,” referencing a remark made by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a recent AKP congress, in which he stated that “the biggest secrets are still hidden.” In response, İmamoğlu challenged Erdoğan, saying, “Relieve yourself by entrusting your fate to the people’s conscience in the ballot box.”
Ongoing Legal Troubles
This is not the first time İmamoğlu has faced legal challenges. He is also under investigation for his remarks criticizing Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Akın Gürlek during a January 20 panel discussion, where he accused Gürlek of bias. The prosecutor’s office launched an inquiry into İmamoğlu for “threatening and targeting officials involved in counter-terrorism.”
Additionally, İmamoğlu has been embroiled in a legal battle over a 2019 statement in which he criticized the annulment of Istanbul’s municipal election, calling those responsible “fools.” He was sentenced to 2 years, 7 months, and 15 days in prison for allegedly insulting members of the Supreme Election Council (YSK), a decision he dismissed as “null and void.”
Should the ruling be upheld during the ongoing appeal process, İmamoğlu could face political disqualification and the loss of his mayoral post.
Upcoming Trial
Another case against İmamoğlu, stemming from his tenure as Beylikdüzü Mayor (2014–2019), accuses him of causing financial harm to the public in a 2015 tender. Despite a favorable ruling from the Council of State, İmamoğlu faces up to seven years in prison, with the next hearing scheduled for April 11, 2025. A conviction in this case could also result in political disqualification.
As the legal battles intensify, İmamoğlu’s position as one of the leading opposition figures in Turkish politics remains under threat, highlighting the escalating tension between the government and opposition parties.
