All eyes on Silivri: İmamoğlu to present defense in IMM case today

The 64th hearing of the trial concerning the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), in which 414 defendants including CHP's presidential candidate and IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu are being tried, will be held in Silivri today.

Of the 414 defendants being tried in the case, 59 are currently in custody.

ALL EYES ON İMAMOĞLU'S DEFENSE

The presiding judge announced in the previous hearing that Ekrem İmamoğlu would be called to the stand to present his defense during the afternoon session on July 8.

İmamoğlu is expected to present his defense during the session scheduled to begin at 14:00 today.

ÖZGÜR ÖZEL ALSO EXPECTED TO OBSERVE THE HEARING

It has been reported that CHP Chairman Özgür Özel will also attend the hearing, which will take place at the Silivri Prison complex.

Özel is expected to attend the session starting at 14:00.

DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PREVIOUS SESSION

In the 63rd hearing of the case held yesterday, the presiding judge stated that Ekrem İmamoğlu had not been completely removed from the trial and would be included again after the defenses of other defendants were heard. The judge also added that he could be removed again "if he disrupts the order."

During the session on July 2, a dispute occurred between the presiding judge and İmamoğlu regarding the order of defense and the hearing schedule, after which the court panel decided to remove İmamoğlu from the courtroom.

İmamoğlu was not brought to the courtroom for the hearing on July 7.

STATEMENT FROM İMAMOĞLU

In a statement made from the X account named 'Presidential Candidacy Office', Ekrem İmamoğlu reacted to the obstruction of his participation in the hearing. İmamoğlu stated, "The court is restricting and ignoring the defenses of the individuals and their lawyers who are most accused in the indictment," adding, "This situation is proof that the IMM case has completely collapsed and turned into a pile of summary executions."

İmamoğlu included the following remarks in his statement:

"At 08:10 this morning, at the prison, the court panel's arbitrary decision preventing me from attending the IMM hearing was notified to me. Preventing me from attending the court where the indictment prepared in my name is being discussed is a very grave violation of rights and the pinnacle of 'enemy law.' The court is restricting and ignoring the defenses of the individuals and their lawyers who are most accused in the indictment. This situation is proof that the 'injustice of the century,' the IMM case, has completely collapsed and turned into a pile of summary executions. The court panel, which was designed by disregarding the principle of the natural judge after the case was opened and therefore can never be spoken of in terms of independence and impartiality, has as of today completely abandoned judicial activity, even in appearance. I am exposing this lawlessness. Let our nation hear."

News Source: 12punto