Lawyer Tora Pekin Says Istanbul Mayor İmamoğlu Faces Conviction and Political Ban

Lawyer Tora Pekin, representing detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, said the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality case is being used to secure a conviction and impose a political ban on the politician. She argued the trial was opened "to give a sentence to İmamoğlu" and warned the outcome would be “mahkûmiyet ve siyasi yasaktır” (conviction and political prohibition).

Pekin noted that the first hearing on 8 July was abruptly ended, preventing İmamoğlu from presenting a defence. She criticised the judicial process as politically motivated, claiming the case is part of a broader effort to block his candidacy for the presidency and to keep him from holding public office. The lawyer stressed that the decision will be driven by the authorities' intentions rather than legal merits.