Imamoglu has no other choice: 'It is time to withdraw'
The summoning of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's lawyer, Mehmet Pehlivan, to testify as a "suspect" has shown that the legal boundaries in the case have become increasingly blurred. Journalist Alican Uludag evaluated this development as a political maneuver, stating that Imamoglu should withdraw from all judicial processes until an independent judiciary is established.
12punto
The judicial process against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu is becoming more controversial by the day. Most recently, the fact that Imamoglu's lawyer, Mehmet Pehlivan, was summoned to testify for the second time, and this time as a suspect, has once again revealed how far the boundaries of the case have been expanded and how far it has strayed from legal norms.
Evaluating the events, journalist Alican Uludag states that this process is no longer legal and has been moved directly onto a political ground. According to Uludag, the Imamoglu file has reached a point where anyone who walks alongside him or is simply in his vicinity can be cast as a suspect. He emphasizes that in this environment, where even the right to defense is being violated, the most correct step Imamoglu should take is to withdraw completely from judicial processes with a demand for an "independent and impartial judiciary."
Here is the assessment written by journalist Alican Uludag within this framework:
"Ekrem Imamoglu's lawyer, Mehmet Pehlivan, was summoned to testify for the second time, and according to reports, he is giving testimony at the Caglayan Courthouse as a suspect. The Imamoglu file has now reached such a state that they are including everyone who passes by Imamoglu as a suspect in the file.
If you are adding even a suspect's lawyer to the file, you are disregarding their right to defense.
The most correct action for Ekrem Imamoglu to take is to withdraw from all judicial proceedings until he finds independent and impartial judges and prosecutors before him. Appearing before a prosecutor in a political case and trying to make a defense in court is to be a part of the setup. Being a part of this will not change the outcome. It means getting stuck in a judicial quagmire.
Just as Selahattin Demirtas has been imprisoned for 8.5 years and still has not even been able to learn the reasoned decision after 13 months, Imamoglu will experience a similar process.
For this reason, Ekrem Imamoglu has no other choice but to withdraw from all judicial proceedings with a demand for an independent and impartial judiciary."