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Court docket orders Imamoglu, a key rival to President Erdogan, jailed pending the end result of a trial on corruption cost.
A Turkish court docket has formally positioned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu below arrest pending trial on corruption fees, days after his detention triggered mass protests throughout the nation.
The court docket’s resolution on Sunday to ship Imamoglu to jail comes after the primary opposition social gathering, European leaders and tens of 1000’s of protesters criticised the actions towards him as politicised.
The court docket stated Imamoglu and no less than 20 others have been jailed as a part of a corruption investigation. A separate ruling on a terror-related investigation has but to be issued.
The mayor, a key opposition determine and potential challenger to longtime President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was detained on Wednesday by the federal government for alleged corruption and “terrorism”.
Imamoglu has denied all the costs describing them as a part of a “smear marketing campaign”.
Heavy safety was reported exterior of the court docket, the place the Istanbul mayor appeared on Sunday.
Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu, who’s reporting from Istanbul, stated that a number of different individuals who have been additionally charged have been ordered launched pending trial.
“We’re nonetheless ready for the choose to rule on the terrorism file. There are fewer individuals charged, so the method can be shorter than anticipated,” our correspondent stated, including that the choice will possible come earlier than midday.
Our correspondent additionally stated that safety measures have been tightened in Istanbul since Saturday night forward of potential protests on Sunday.
“Regardless of a protest ban, which was prolonged till March 26, demonstrations have been happening, together with in Istanbul, Ankara and about 50 different cities final evening.”
Police stated no less than 300,000 individuals protested in Istanbul on Saturday evening. The opposition claimed the quantity was nearer to one million individuals.
The court docket resolution on Sunday additionally comes because the Turkish opposition Republican Individuals’s Get together (CHP) members and others head to polling stations for a main election endorse Imamoglu as candidate for the subsequent presidential election.
The CHP has referred to as for non-party members to vote to spice up public resistance following Imamoglu’s detention.
CHP, which has greater than 1.5 million members, arrange 5,600 poll bins for voting throughout all of Turkey’s 81 provinces. Polls will shut at 1400 GMT.
The following presidential election is scheduled to be held in 2028.
