For about a year, Turkey‘s judiciary has come down hard on the largest opposition party, the Republican People’s Party(CHP). Sixteen mayors and hundreds of their employees and party officials have been arrested.
Ekrem Imamoglu, the former mayor of Istanbul and the opposition’s most promising presidential candidate, has been locked up in the high-security prison of Silivri since March. The 54-year-old rival of President Recep Tayyip Edogan faces various charges, with accusations ranging from defamation to corruption.
On September 11, Imamoglu will be in court on charges of forgery. Although the accusation sounds trivial, a conviction could have far-reaching consequences.
What is Imamoglu accused of in forgery case
Imamoglu is accused of forging multiple documents, particularly his university diploma, which the University of Istanbul annulled just before his arrest. He faces a maximum prison sentence of eight years and nine months if convicted.
The gravest consequence, however, would be his exclusion from any political activities, particularly from running in the next presidential elections. According to Turkey’s constitution, a university degree is a mandatory prerequisite for the office of head of state.
Imamoglu and his CHP party claim that the forgery charges and the university administration’s decision to annul his degree are politically motivated. The case so far seems to substantiate this suspicion, as the debate about Imamoglu’s diploma only began after he was successfully elected mayor of Istanbul in 2019.
After Imamoglu took office, it came to light that Erdogan’s Justice and Development (AK) party had used the city as a financial source for pursuing its ideological goals. For years, funds flowed into government-friendly media outlets, as well as Islamist organizations and brotherhoods.
Crirics view the proceedings against Imamoglu as an act of revenge by the government. For years. Imamoglu’s party has cast doubt over Erdogan’s own degree. He is supposed to have graduated from Marmara University in 1981. But officially the university was only established in 1982.
What other trials does Imamoglu face?
Imamoglu was imprisoned in March after being accused of corruption and interfering with public tender procedures in Istanbul. He is also accused of supporting terrorism, a charge stemming from cooperation between his party, the CHP, and the pro-Kurdish DEM party during the last local elections.
In some Istanbul communities with a high percentage of Kurdish population, both opposition parties had agreed on joint candidates and succeeded in defeating the ruling party’s candidates. Although the Turkish government is engaged in a peace process with both PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) and DEM to end the Kurdish conflict, the Turkish judiciary interprets even a remote affiliation with the pro-Kurdish DEM party as “supporting terrorism.”
In other proceedings, prosecutors are investigating allegations of embezzling public funds at cultural events. This accusation does not affect Imamoglu alone; the AKP government also accuses other opposition mayors of freely spending public money on festivals and concerts. Critics, however, point out that the ruling party itself organizes large events in many cities, which are not under investigation.
Who is Ekrem Imamoglu?
Imamoglu was born on June 4, 1970, in Akcaabat, near the city of Trabzon, on Turkey’s Black Sea coast. He comes from a modest background. His family ran a craft supplies shop and moved to Istanbul in 1987, where they set up a construction company. Like Erdogan, Imamoglu was a passionate footballer and attended an Islamic school.
By his own account, he began his studies at the American University in Northern Cyprus, transferring to the University of Istanbul later, where he attained a Bachelor’s degree in business administration and a Master’s degree in human resources management in 1994.
In 2008, he joined the Republican People’s Party (CHP). Blending a social democratic and nationalist agenda, the CHP became the main opposition party to the ruling AKP. Its political base is predominantly the urban, secular middle class.
Imamoglu’s political career began in Istanbul’s Beylikduzu district, an AKP stronghold where he prevailed in 2014 as a CHP candidate. Four years later, he ran for the office of mayor of Istanbul. In a surprise victory, he defeated Erdogan’s right-hand man, former Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.
After this election result was annulled, Imamoglu prevailed again when the election was repeated, this time with a wide margin. His landslide victory ended 25 years of AKP dominance in Istanbul.
After taking office, Imamoglu stopped payments to several foundations affiliated with the AKP totaling €55 million ($64.5 million) and canceled municipal payments to pro-government media. As a result, the government blocked his projects and did not approve loans requested by the municipality.
In the 2024 local elections, Imamoglu ran again as an opposition candidate in Istanbul and again emerged victorious.
He is considered down-to-earth and eloquent and appeals to various social groups. His rhetoric is constructive: He didn’t want to divide, but integrate everyone, he said. He mobilized millions with his slogan “Everything will be beautiful.” Using his popularity, he managed to push his party toward reforms.
With the current reform-minded party leadership, he embarked on a successful course. However, legal proceedings are also underway against them, with the entire party leadership facing removal from office. The next hearing is slated for September 15. If the current party executive were removed and a temporary administrator were appointed to lead the CHP, Imamoglu could fall into oblivion.
This article was originally published in German.
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