In a move that has sent shockwaves through Turkey’s political and judicial landscape, a Turkish prosecutor has demanded an unprecedented 2,000-year prison sentence for Ekrem Imamoglu, the jailed opposition mayor of Istanbul and key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
According to an indictment seen by Reuters, Imamoglu — leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) — is accused of orchestrating a sprawling corruption network that allegedly cost the Turkish state 160 billion lira ($3.8 billion) over a decade.
The indictment, spanning more than 4,000 pages, names 402 suspects, including top municipal officials and businessmen. It alleges Imamoglu was the “founder and head” of the criminal organization, which engaged in bribery, bid-rigging, and fraud, according to Istanbul’s Chief Prosecutor Akin Gurlek.
Gurlek further requested the shutdown of the CHP, claiming it was “financed through illicit funds” and engaged in “prohibited acts,” a move that could dissolve Turkey’s oldest political party and obliterate the institutional backbone of the opposition.
Imamoglu and CHP Dismiss Allegations as Political Repression
The CHP and Imamoglu’s legal team have rejected the charges outright, branding them “nonsense” and “a political coup through the courts.”
CHP Istanbul head Ozgur Celik posted on social media platform X:
“This indictment is shameful and absurd. It’s a desperate attempt to destroy Imamoglu’s presidential prospects.”
CHP leader Ozgur Ozel went further, calling the move a “judicial coup”, adding:
“This is not justice, but a political vendetta. The government wants to erase the opposition by locking up its strongest leader.”
Imamoglu, imprisoned since March 2025 pending trial, already faces a separate prison sentence from July for allegedly insulting a prosecutor — a verdict he is appealing.
The Turkish government, however, insists the courts are independent and denies any political motive, maintaining that the charges stem from financial crime investigations led by the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK).
Erdogan’s Grip Tightens as Opposition Faces Existential Threat
Analysts warn the case could mark a turning point in Turkey’s political trajectory.
Wolfango Piccoli, co-president of Teneo, cautioned that if Imamoglu is convicted, the government could appoint a trustee to take over the Istanbul municipality — a move that would hand control of Turkey’s largest and wealthiest city back to the central government.
“Losing Istanbul would deprive the opposition of its most important political and financial power base,” said Piccoli.
The CHP’s control of Istanbul since 2019 has been a rare blow to Erdogan’s AK Party (AKP) dominance and a symbol of hope for Turkey’s fragmented opposition. Imamoglu’s popularity — bolstered by his image as a modern, moderate reformer — made him the frontrunner to challenge Erdogan in the next presidential election.
But with the CHP now facing a possible party ban and its most prominent leader jailed, Turkey’s opposition appears weakened and cornered amid an expanding crackdown on dissent.
International Reactions & Human Rights Concerns
The extraordinary length of the requested sentence — more than 2,000 years — has drawn widespread criticism abroad. International observers and human rights groups have condemned the move as judicial overreach and a politically motivated persecution.
Rights advocates argue that Turkey’s judiciary has been increasingly used as a tool to suppress opposition since the failed 2016 coup attempt. The Council of Europe and Amnesty International have previously raised concerns about the erosion of judicial independence in the country.
With Imamoglu’s case now escalating, Western governments are likely to face renewed pressure to reassess relations with Ankara, particularly over human rights and democratic governance.
As Imamoglu awaits trial behind bars, Turkey stands at a critical political crossroads. The case could either cement Erdogan’s grip on power or trigger a new wave of domestic and international backlash against Ankara’s perceived authoritarian drift.
For millions of Turks who voted for Imamoglu in 2019, hoping for change, the message is clear:
In Erdogan’s Turkey, political rivalry now comes with a prison sentence — or two thousand.