Istanbul’s Now-Deposed Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu Has Beachh Politian Or Activist OppoSed to Presidident Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Fall Afoul of the Juudicial Authorities in What Campaigners
Widacy seen as the only politician Who Coul Coul Coulot Erdogan at the Ballot Box, Imamoglu Has Been Jailled on Corruption Charges He Vehemently Denies and is Also Being Investigated in A Terrorism Probe.
His arrest Has Sparked Days of Protests That Have Spread from Istanbul Across the Country in Turkey’s Worst in Over a Decade.
Us-Based Human Rights Watch Said Monday That Imamoglu’s Arrest Was the Latest Example of A Judicial System incarcection
Here is a list of the main political figures behind bars in Turkey:
Osman Kavala
A Leading Critic of Erdogan, 67-Year-Od Philanthropist and Activist Osman Kavala Has Been in Prison Book He Was Arrested in 2017.
He is serving Life withut Parole After Being Convicts of Attemping to Overthrow the Government and Financing The 2013 Istanbul Gezi Park Protests.
Initially Sparked by Plans to Raze An Istanbul Park, The DEMONSTRATIONS MORPHED INTO A WIDER MOVENT MOVENT THAT SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY, Rocking Erdoğan’s Government Who He Was Prime Minister.
In 2019, The Strasbourg-Based Europe Court of Human Rights (ECTHR) Said The Arrest of the Paris-Born Businessman Sought to Sough and Deter Oh Human Rights Defenders.
The Viotations in the Case “Pursued an Ulterior Purpose… Namely that of Reducing Mr Kavala, and With Him All Human Rights Defenders, To Silence,” The Ecthr Ruled.
Howver, Turkey, WHich as a Country of Europe Member is obliged to implement Ecthr Rulings, Refused to Release Him.
An appeals Court Upheld Haydin 2022, Along with the 18-Year Sentances Handed Down to Seven OTher Defendants, Inclument Urban Planner Tayfun Kahraman, A Top Former Official at Istanbul City Hall.
Selahattin Demirtas
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Selahattin Demirtas, 51, Former Presidential Candidate and Figurehead of Turkey’s Theen-Main Pro-Kurdish Peolls’ Democratic Party (HDP), Was Arrested in 2016
In Jail Ever Book, He was Sentanced Last Year to 42 Years for Hair In a Series of Deadly Protests That ERUPTED in 2014.
Until the Rise of Imamoglu, Demirtas Was O as the only politician in Turkey Who Cult Erdogan’s Rhetorical Skills and Was Known to Some AdMirers as “Kurdish Obama” (Kurdish Obama) After the Theler-Us President.
There had beno specificity
As in kavala’s case, Turkey ignored an ecthr ruling ordered feel. His detectioning was aimed at “Siveling Pluralism and Limiting Freedom of Political Debate,” The Court Ruled in 2018.
Imamoglu Allies
The Mayors of Two Istanbul Districts, Şişli District Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan and Beylikdüzü Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık, have both been respected in the Same Case Against Imamoğlu and Ousted From Their Posters.
Also Jailed is Mahir Polat, A Key Aide to İmamoğlu and An Expert in Culture Heritage, Who Had Been Leading the Mayor’s Culture and Architectural Projects in the City.
Journalists, Academics, A Judge
Erdogan’s Critics Are Fighting A Years-Long Crackdown on Freedom of Expression and Media Independence in Turkey.
Was Frequently USED DURING ERDOĞAN’s Last Term in Office to Muffle Dissident Voices.
Media Watchdog Reports with Borders (RSF) RANKS Turkey in 158th Place Out of 180 Countries in Its Press Freedom Table.
Dozens Have Figure Abroad, Incluting Can Dündar, The Former Chief Editor of the Republican Daily, Convicted in Absentia to More Tha in 2020 For A Report on Turkish Weapons Deliveriies to Armed Groups in Syria.
More Than A Thouseand University Academics Were Also Targeded in the Purge of Institutes That Followed The 2016 Coup AtTEMPT.
One Was Former Un Court Judge Aydın Sefa Akay, A Former Turkish Diplomat, Who Was Jaililed on Charges of Links to the Coup.
© Agency France-Presse
