Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu Celebrates 55th Birthday in Prison Courtroom

Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul who has been imprisoned in Silivri since last year on corruption charges, was surprised with a 55th‑birthday celebration inside the courtroom where his trial is taking place. Supporters including his wife Dilek Imamoglu, musician Cahit Berkay and writer Sunay Akın presented a cake and a banner that read “good that you were born”. Imamoglu made a joke about his parents, while gendarmerie forces intervened to disperse the gathering. The event highlighted the high‑profile nature of his case and drew public attention amid the ongoing trial.