İmamoğlu speaks on the 'fool' case: 'Such a case cannot exist'

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu made important statements regarding the case in which a political ban is being sought against him.

Stating that a statement would be made by the council members of the Union of Municipalities of Turkey (TBB), İmamoğlu noted that the case has been intensely reflected in the public eye over the last few weeks.

Regarding the case where he faces a political ban if the 2-year, 7-month, and 15-day prison sentence—handed down for allegedly calling members of the Supreme Election Council (YSK) 'fools'—is upheld, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu said, "This case disturbs society; such a case cannot exist."

İmamoğlu answered questions from members of the press in Ankara.

"The case disturbs society"

Stating that there are several aspects to the case being intensely reflected in the public eye over the last few weeks, İmamoğlu said that the case disturbs society and is unacceptable.

Asking, "Is the course of the case determined by law or by politics?" İmamoğlu noted that the case is a social issue, adding, "The issue is a matter of democracy and law. A roadmap will be determined when our Chairman Özgür Özel returns," he said.

The 'fool' case in which İmamoğlu is being tried

Ekrem İmamoğlu attended and gave a speech at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe held in Strasbourg, France, in November 2019, the year he was first elected as the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

Süleyman Soylu, an AKP Istanbul MP who was serving as the Minister of Interior of Turkey at the time, said of İmamoğlu, "I am saying this to the fool who went to the European Parliament and complained about Turkey. This nation will make you pay the price for this."

İmamoğlu responded to Soylu by saying, "When we look at those who canceled the election on March 31 and what happened, and where we stand in the eyes of the world and Europe, those who canceled the election on March 31 are the fools. Let him focus on that first."

Following this, the members of the Supreme Election Council (YSK), which organizes elections in Turkey, filed a written criminal complaint with the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, stating that they had been insulted and were victims.

In the indictment prepared by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was requested that İmamoğlu be sentenced to between 1 year, 3 months, and 15 days to 4 years and 1 month in prison for the crime of "publicly insulting public officials working as a board due to their duties."

In the first stage of the trial held at the Istanbul Anatolian 7th Criminal Court of First Instance, Ekrem İmamoğlu was sentenced to 2 years, 7 months, and 15 days in prison and a political ban.

The case has been continuing for the last two years at the Court of Appeal, which is the step below the Court of Cassation, also accepted as the "Court of Appeals" in Turkey.