Ekrem İmamoğlu blocked by gendarmerie during Istanbul mayor trial hearing

The 47th hearing of the ongoing trial against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was held in a courtroom at Silivri Prison. While attempting to address the court, İmamoğlu descended the stairs amid chants from his supporters and was physically stopped by a gendarmerie sergeant. He shouted, "Who pushed me?" and demanded that the officer allow him to speak, describing the action as an attempt to silence him. The confrontation led to a brief recess before the hearing resumed.

During the same session, former Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality media executive Ipek Elif Atayman testified, recounting alleged rights violations while detained, and businessman Serkan Öztürk withdrew an earlier statement, claiming his initial testimony did not reflect the truth.

Separately, the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office issued a statement rejecting claims that İmamoğlu’s visitation rights were being restricted. The office affirmed that all detainees, including İmamoğlu, receive full visitation privileges under Turkish law and announced an investigation into social-media accounts that spread the alleged misinformation under article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code.