For the second time in six months, the opposition mayor of Istanbul faces a court case that could lead him to be banned from politics ahead of elections in which Turkey’s ruling party will try to retake the city.
Ekrem Imamoglu has been charged with involvement in rigging a public works tender in 2015, when he was mayor of Istanbul’s Beylikduzu district. Prosecutors have called for a jail sentence of three to seven years.
Although the sentence would likely be suspended, Mr Imamoglu could be legally barred from politics and removed from office if convicted.
Since he won re-election last month, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stressed the importance of his Justice and Development Party, or AKP, retaking Istanbul.
Before Mr Imamoglu gained Istanbul for the centre-left Republican People’s Party, or CHP, in 2019, the city had been under the control of Islamic-orientated parties for 25 years – first the Welfare Party and then the AKP.
Mr Erdogan, a native of the city, was the Welfare Party mayor for Istanbul from 1994 to 1998.
Many commentators see the case against Mr Imamoglu as politically motivated, just as a conviction last December was viewed as a means to prevent him from standing against Mr Erdogan in the presidential election.
In the run-up to CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu declaring his candidacy, Mr Imamoglu was seen as one of the front-runners to challenge Mr Erdogan.
The December case, which the mayor is currently appealing, saw a political ban and a prison sentence of two years and seven months handed down for insulting members of Turkey’s election board.
Mr Imamoglu had denied referring to the board as “fools” over its decision to re-run the 2019 mayoral battle in the wake of his first-round victory. He won the second vote by a much larger margin.
The government maintains Turkey’s judiciary is independent but many observers argue that the courts have become an arm of Mr Erdogan’s executive presidency.
Monica Marks, assistant professor of Middle East politics at New York University Abu Dhabi, described the latest case as “yet another step towards eliminating meaningful political competition that might challenge Erdogan’s grip on power”.
“The new indictment against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu – though wrapped in a thin veil of legality – represents nothing less than a bald-faced attempt to kneecap Turkey’s most charismatic opposition politician ahead of the country’s local elections next year,” she said.
The Ministry of Interior’s investigation into tender-rigging alleges a public loss of 250,000 liras – about $10,600 at today’s exchange rate, but $86,000 at the time – in a bid to provide services and staff to Beylikduzu Municipality in December 2015.
The municipality, based in Istanbul’s western suburbs, was headed by Mr Imamoglu between 2014 and 2019.
He did not attend Thursday’s initial hearing in Istanbul, which was adjourned to November. His lawyer, Kemal Polat, described the case as one “without legal basis” and said the mayor was not directly involved in the tender process.
“The prosecutor's office opened this case despite the finding of the Council of State [Turkey’s highest administrative court] and despite the fact that the expert witness did not make such an accusation during the investigation,” he said.
Lawyer Veysel Ok, co-director of the Media and Law Studies Association, contrasted a lack of legal action over corruption claims made against AKP municipalities to the charges against Mr Imamoglu.
“For decades, we have been reading a lot of news about corruption allegations in municipalities close to the government in Turkey,” he said.
“So far, however, not a single official close to the government has been investigated. On the contrary, there is a siege from all sides to the municipalities belonging to the opposition parties.”
Mr Ok said that “the only motivation is to criminalise these people and throw them out of the political arena”.
Compared to the December case, he said, the vote-rigging charge could prove more damaging.
“Although it has no convincing basis for public opinion, the corruption allegation is a seriously trust-shattering claim.”
Mr Imamoglu not only represents a threat to Mr Erdogan in next year’s local polls but also on the national stage in years to come.
While the CHP evaluates its next steps following last month’s defeat, it seems likely that Mr Kilicdaroglu will face a leadership challenge if he does not step down.
As in the wrangling over the opposition candidate earlier this year, Mr Imamoglu is viewed by many as the party’s best hope for the future.
At age 53 – compared to Mr Erdogan’s 69 years and Mr Kilicdaroglu’s 74 – he is seen as young and dynamic. His socially conservative background is potentially appealing to AKP voters, as are his roots in the Black Sea region, a stronghold for the ruling party.
He also has a record of winning despite the “unfair electoral playing field” he faced in 2019, Ms Marks said.
Since the presidential election, Mr Imamoglu has led calls for a shake-up of the CHP, demanding “a radical and detailed change”. However, he has not directly challenged Mr Kilicdaroglu and the two appeared on friendly terms following a meeting in Ankara on Wednesday.
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RESULTS
5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Purebred Arabian Cup Conditions (PA) Dh 200,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Hameem, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA) Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Winked, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Cup Listed (TB) Dh 380,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Boerhan, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA) Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Jewel Crown Group 1 (PA) Dh 5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Messi, Pat Dobbs, Timo Keersmaekers
7.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Handicap (PA) Dh 150,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Harrab, Ryan Curatolo, Jean de Roualle
8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AF Alareeq, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
PROFILE BOX:
Company/date started: 2015
Founder/CEO: Rami Salman, Rishav Jalan, Ayush Chordia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Technology, Sales, Voice, Artificial Intelligence
Size: (employees/revenue) 10/ 100,000 downloads
Stage: 1 ($800,000)
Investors: Eight first-round investors including, Beco Capital, 500 Startups, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Hala Fadel, Odin Financial Services, Dubai Angel Investors, Womena, Arzan VC
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Opening Rugby Championship fixtures: Games can be watched on OSN Sports
Saturday: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney, 1pm (UAE)
Sunday: South Africa v Argentina, Port Elizabeth, 11pm (UAE)
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Profile of Tarabut Gateway
Founder: Abdulla Almoayed
Based: UAE
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 35
Sector: FinTech
Raised: $13 million
Backers: Berlin-based venture capital company Target Global, Kingsway, CE Ventures, Entrée Capital, Zamil Investment Group, Global Ventures, Almoayed Technologies and Mad’a Investment.
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The biog
Simon Nadim has completed 7,000 dives.
The hardest dive in the UAE is the German U-boat 110m down off the Fujairah coast.
As a child, he loved the documentaries of Jacques Cousteau
He also led a team that discovered the long-lost portion of the Ines oil tanker.
If you are interested in diving, he runs the XR Hub Dive Centre in Fujairah
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
Under 19 World Cup
Group A: India, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka
Group B: Australia, England, Nigeria, West Indies
Group C: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe
Group D: Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, UAE
UAE fixtures
Saturday, January 18, v Canada
Wednesday, January 22, v Afghanistan
Saturday, January 25, v South Africa
25-MAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina, Abdullahi Shehu, Chidozie Awaziem, William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo, Jamilu Collins, Semi Ajayi
Midfielders: John Obi Mikel, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, John Ogu
Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Henry Onyekuru, Odion Ighalo, Alexander Iwobi, Samuel Kalu, Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze
On Standby: Theophilus Afelokhai, Bryan Idowu, Ikouwem Utin, Mikel Agu, Junior Ajayi, Valentine Ozornwafor
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
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The Al Barzakh Festival takes place on Wednesday and Thursday at 7.30pm in the Red Theatre, NYUAD, Saadiyat Island. Tickets cost Dh105 for adults from platinumlist.net
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Men from Barca's class of 99
Crystal Palace - Frank de Boer
Everton - Ronald Koeman
Manchester City - Pep Guardiola
Manchester United - Jose Mourinho
Southampton - Mauricio Pellegrino
The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Six things you need to know about UAE Women’s Special Olympics football team
Several girls started playing football at age four
They describe sport as their passion
The girls don’t dwell on their condition
They just say they may need to work a little harder than others
When not in training, they play football with their brothers and sisters
The girls want to inspire others to join the UAE Special Olympics teams
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
