Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu Jailed; Trial Could Last 12 Years

Ekrem İmamoğlu, the elected mayor of Istanbul since 2019 and a declared candidate for the 2028 presidential election, is now in prison. His trial, which includes charges of fraud and organized crime, could take up to 12 years. The case has drawn attention to Silivri, a prison complex west of Istanbul. In Turkey, critics of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government often mention an old saying: “Silivri is cold.” They use it to describe the risk of being sent to the facility after speaking out. Silivri was once a summer retreat area, known for cottages, farms, and villas with pools. Construction of the Marmara Prison complex began in 2005 and took three years. Today, it contains eight closed correctional institutions and an open prison, where the court is located. It is the largest prison complex in Europe.