Murat Karayalçın evaluates the potential outcomes of Ekrem İmamoğlu's 'fool' trial

Karayalçın stated on his social media account that he does not believe a political ban will be imposed in the trial where İmamoğlu is being judged, adding that for a politician

Following reports that Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu could face a prison sentence and a political ban in the 'fool' trial, which has been ongoing in the Court of Appeal for the last two years, the issue was brought to the table by the CHP, and discussions were held on how to proceed in the event of a political ban decision.

While the issue of İmamoğlu receiving a political ban is also being discussed within the AKP, former SHP Chairman Murat Karayalçın provided an assessment based on the potential ban decision of the case in question. 

Stating that he does not believe a political ban will be imposed on İmamoğlu, Karayalçın made the following comment:

"I am not of the opinion that a political ban will be imposed on Ekrem İmamoğlu. I have very strong political, conscientious, and legal reasons for thinking this way. 

It is the people, not the state, who decide on a politician's ban. Since ancient times, these lands have witnessed political ban decisions imposed by the state during coups and coup-like periods being torn up and thrown into the trash by the people. 

But if, despite this, a ban decision is issued by the state for Ekrem İmamoğlu, it is not only he who will be diminished politically; I, as Murat Karayalçın, will also be diminished, we all will be diminished as CHP members, and in fact, Turkish politics itself will be diminished; whatever remains after that will not be called politics."

ABOUT THE TRIAL PROCESS

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, when he was first elected as the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

Süleyman Soylu, an AK Party Istanbul Deputy who was serving as the Minister of Interior of Turkey at the time, had said about İmamoğlu: "I am saying this to the fool who goes to the European Parliament and complains 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 where we stand in the eyes of the world and Europe, and at what happened and what ended, those who canceled the election on March 31 are the real fools. Let him focus on that first."

Upon 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 imprisonment ranging from 1 year, 3 months, and 15 days to 4 years and 1 month for the crime of "publicly insulting public officials working as a board due to their duties."

In the first leg 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.

For the last two years, the case has been continuing in the Court of Appeal, which is the lower tier of the Court of Cassation, also accepted as the "Supreme Court of Appeals" in Turkey.

News Source: 12punto