Turkey’s Imamoglu could see 2,000 years in jail

In a case that has shaken Turkish politics, a prosecutor in Istanbul has demanded more than 2,000 in prison for Ekrem Imamoglu, the city’s widely popular mayor and the leading figure of Turkey’s opposition. The prosecutor’s office accuses Imamoglu of 142 separate corruption-related crimes, which together could result in a sentence ranging from 828 to 2,352 years behind bars.

The 54-year-old mayor, who represents the secular Republican People’s Party (CHP), has been in pre-trial detention since March on charges of corruption. He and his party firmly reject the accusations, calling them politically motivated attempts by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s administration to silence a rising rival. Imamoglu has long been seen as the most credible challenger to Erdogan’s rule and a likely candidate for the 2028 presidential election.

The allegations and scope of the case

Chief prosecutor Akin Gurlek, after an 8-month investigation, claims that Imamoglu and 401 other individuals formed a vast criminal network operating under the mayor’s direction. Of these suspects, 105 are currently detained. The indictment alleges that the group engaged in extensive bribery, embezzlement, and money laundering, resulting in an estimated loss of 160 billion Turkish lira, about $3.8 billion, to the state.

According to the charge sheet, Imamoglu personally faces 12 counts of bribery, 7 counts of laundering proceeds from crime, and another 7 counts of defrauding public institutions. Thus, the maximum penalties attached to these charges could total as much as 2,430 years in prison.

Political and public reaction

The arrest of the Istanbul mayor triggered massive protests throughout Turkey in March. Demonstrators filled the streets in defense of what they see as an assault on democracy and local self-government. The protests were met with a heavy-handed police response and hundreds of arrests. Imamoglu has since been held in the high-security Marmara prison on the outskirts of Istanbul.

CHP leader Ozgur Ozel described the case as a blatant political maneuver rather than a legitimate criminal prosecution. He stated on the X platform that “this case is not legal, it is entirely political. Its purpose is to stop the CHP, which came first in the last elections, and to block its presidential candidate.” Speaking to his party’s parliamentary group, Ozel added that no other CHP member would run for the presidency, claiming that Imamoglu’s “only crime is aspiring to lead this country. There is no other crime.”

A Pattern of legal pressure

This is not the first time Imamoglu has faced legal action since becoming mayor. He first gained national prominence in 2019, when he defeated the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) candidate in Istanbul’s municipal election, a major blow to Erdogan’s political dominance. After authorities annulled that vote, Imamoglu won the rerun with an even larger margin. He was re-elected again in April 2024, defeating the AKP’s candidate by nearly a million votes.

Since then, he has been the target of several criminal proceedings. Earlier this year, Imamoglu was sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in prison for allegedly insulting and threatening a local prosecutor. He is also appealing another conviction for criticizing electoral officials.

In addition to the sweeping corruption case, prosecutors have launched investigations accusing him of espionage and academic fraud. The espionage claim, introduced only 2 weeks ago, alleges that Imamoglu shared personal data of Istanbul residents in exchange for international funding. Authorities also claim that his university diploma was forged, a charge that led to the annulment of his degree, a move that would disqualify him from running for president in 2028.

Imamoglu’s response and growing concerns

Imamoglu has dismissed the espionage allegations as absurd, urging the public to “forget this nonsense.” His supporters argue that the flurry of accusations, ranging from corruption to espionage and forgery, reflects a coordinated campaign to destroy his political career. CHP leader Ozel ridiculed the situation, asking parliamentarians, “Could he have committed electoral fraud, had a fake diploma, been a thief, a terrorist, and a spy all at once?”

Despite repeated claims from the government that the judiciary acts independently, critics both inside and outside Turkey view the prosecution as part of a broader effort by Erdogan to suppress opposition figures through the courts. Human rights organizations and foreign observers have previously accused Turkish authorities of using the justice system as a political weapon, particularly against mayors from the CHP and the pro-Kurdish HDP.

The stakes for Turkey

The outcome of Imamoglu’s case could reshape the country’s political landscape. With Erdogan’s popularity waning amid economic struggles and public discontent, Imamoglu has emerged as the face of a potential post-Erdogan era. His imprisonment, therefore, is seen not merely as a legal issue but as a test of Turkey’s democratic resilience.

For now, the mayor remains in custody, awaiting trial on a mountain of charges that could keep him behind bars for life many times over. To his supporters, however, Imamoglu’s ordeal has transformed him from a successful city administrator into a symbol of resistance against authoritarianism, and perhaps, despite the odds, the opposition’s best hope for Turkey’s future.