Second Probe Launched Against Istanbul Mayor Over Courtroom Remarks

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is facing a second criminal investigation for statements he made during a recent court hearing. The investigation concerns a speech İmamoğlu gave while defending himself in a separate case. In that case, a court had previously sentenced him to prison and imposed a political ban for insulting public officials. Prosecutors have now opened a new file. They allege that the mayor's courtroom defense speech itself contained elements of a crime. The first case, which resulted in İmamoğlu's conviction, is currently under appeal. The new investigation examines only the content of his recent court address. This development significantly escalates the legal challenges for the opposition mayor, who is widely seen as a potential future presidential candidate.