The mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, is being tried for 142 charges of corruption, in a process that critics consider politically motivated.

Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul, was tried on Monday alongside over 400 other charges in a corruption case that critics consider politically motivated. İmamoğlu, the main rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is accused of 142 crimes, including forming a criminal organization for profit during his time as mayor of the Beylikduzu district.

The trial began in a tense atmosphere, with judges refusing Ekrem İmamoğlu's request to speak. He has been in prison for nearly a year, and his arrest has sparked massive protests.

The case is seen as part of a broader judicial campaign against the opposition, and İmamoğlu's supporters emphasize the political nature of the charges. While the government claims that justice is independent, critics argue that the trial violates the right to a fair trial. Despite the ban on demonstrating around Silivri prison, hundreds of people gathered to demand his release.