Turkish court hands new prison term to opposition mayor Imamoglu.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu—President Erdoğan’s leading political rival—has been sentenced to one year and eight months in prison for insulting the chief prosecutor, state TV reported on July 16 . The conviction, pending appeal, marks another escalation in legal action against prominent opposition figures.
Imamoglu, already detained since March on separate corruption charges, called his conviction “an insult against our nation,” accusing authorities of weaponizing the judiciary.
This is his second insult conviction; a prior ruling could bar him from future elections if upheld . His university diploma was revoked earlier this year, further hampering his political rights.
The move is part of growing concerns that Turkish courts are increasingly used to silence political dissent ahead of key elections.
I'm Adedayo Obadina
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