Statement from İmamoğlu ahead of the IMM trial! 'It has reached the point of not letting me speak'

The second session of the trial regarding the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality begins today in Silivri. The hearing for the case, which includes 414 defendants such as Ekrem İmamoğlu, Resul Emrah Şahan, Mehmet Murat Çalık, Necati Özkan, Murat Ongun, and Mehmet Pehlivan, is expected to start at 10:00.

The case, heard by the Istanbul 33rd High Criminal Court, will continue in the new courtroom built in Silivri before the trial began. In this session, it is anticipated that the defenses of the non-detained defendants will be heard. Within the scope of the case, 53 defendants remain in custody.

According to information obtained, the second session is expected to be completed within a calendar of approximately two months. Whether Ekrem İmamoğlu, who closed the first session without being able to present his defense, will make a request for defense and how the court will respond to this request are among the topics that will be closely watched during the session. Özgür Özel is also expected to come to Silivri to follow the hearing.

STATEMENT FROM İMAMOĞLU BEFORE THE HEARING

Detained Ekrem İmamoğlu made a statement through his lawyers from the Presidential Candidate Office account before the hearing.

Sharing the writing of his imprisoned lawyer Mehmet Pehlivan, İmamoğlu stated, "The restriction of my right to defense began with the arrest of my lawyer and has reached the point of not letting me speak."

The restriction of my right to defense began with the arrest of my lawyer and has reached the point of not letting me speak. https://t.co/TdUsKNrVx5

— Cumhurbaşkanlığı Aday Ofisi (@CA_iletisim) August 17, 2026

TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THE FIRST SESSION

The first session of the trial began on March 9, and the process of taking the defenses of the detained defendants was completed on July 8. The total number of defendants, which was 402 at the beginning of the trial, rose to 414 with the merger of the Beyoğlu file with the main file. After the release decisions made throughout the first session, the number of detained defendants decreased to 53.

The first session was marked by some defendants, who had given statements under the scope of effective remorse during the investigation phase, retracting these statements in court. Four defendants withdrew their previous statements, claiming they were under pressure, were directed with promises of release, and that their will was impaired.

Allegations of pressure and direction regarding the statement procedures during the prosecution phase also came to the agenda in the defendants' defenses. Some defendants claimed they were forced to testify against certain individuals. It was also mentioned in the hearings that some detainees in prison were offered release if they testified through intermediaries or lawyers.

Accounts regarding detention and prison conditions were also reflected in the minutes during the first session. Media AŞ General Manager Fatoş Pınar Türker alleged that she was subjected to a strip search while in custody and faced pressure during the prosecution process. Following Türker's statements, the Ministry of Interior announced that an investigation had been launched into the matter.

In the final part of the session, the time limit imposed on defenses created controversy. The calendar set for the defenses of Murat Ongun and Fatih Keleş's lawyers was evaluated by the defense attorneys as a restriction of the right to defense. İmamoğlu also reacted to this limitation; after the arguments, he was removed from the courtroom in accordance with Article 203 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CMK).

After the remaining lawyer defenses of Murat Ongun and Fatih Keleş were completed, it was İmamoğlu's turn, but while the time limitation debates continued, the presiding judge decided to remove İmamoğlu from the courtroom again. A record was entered into the minutes stating that İmamoğlu "used his right to remain silent."

NO RELEASE BEFORE THE SECOND SESSION

The last detention review before the second session was held on August 6. The court decided to continue the detention of all 53 defendants held in the file. Thus, no release decision was made for any defendant before the new session.

While the first session was ongoing, three separate investigations were launched against Ekrem İmamoğlu due to the statements he used in the hearings. It was stated that the investigations were opened ex officio by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

The name of the court hearing the case also changed during the first session period. The case had started on March 9 at the Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court. Following the decree of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors dated June 30, the court was closed; the same presiding judge and panel continued to hear the file as the Istanbul 33rd High Criminal Court.

News Source: 12punto