Judicial reaction from Ekrem İmamoğlu: 'No evidence, no crime'

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has reacted sharply to the decision to continue the detention of his lawyer, Mehmet Pehlivan, who has been held at Silivri Prison since March 23, 2025. Arguing that Pehlivan has been deprived of his freedom solely for performing his duties as a lawyer, İmamoğlu described the process as "a period in which the law is being trampled upon."

"HE WENT TO THE PROSECUTOR AND WAS ARRESTED: THERE IS NO EVIDENCE"

In a written statement issued from his Presidential Campaign Office, İmamoğlu used the following expressions:

"My lawyer, Mehmet Pehlivan, was arrested at the courthouse where he went upon the prosecutor's summons. He neither fled nor hid. The only so-called evidence against him is the statement of a slanderer. These statements have both been refuted by documents and denied by the slanderer's own lawyer. Yet, despite this, Pehlivan is still in prison."

The appeal against his detention, which is normally concluded in 3 days, was decided upon after exactly 20 days and was rejected.

There is no new development in the file regarding Pehlivan, who was only performing his legal duties; there is no evidence, there is no crime...

Every day Pehlivan spends in prison is a confession of time stolen from his freedom and the usurpation of the right to defense.

My lawyer, Mehmet Pehlivan, must be released immediately."  

News Source: 12punto