ECHR to rule on İmamoğlu detention as Turkey accused of silencing opposition

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is set to examine the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, in a case that three rights groups say reflects a broader pattern of silencing political opponents in Türkiye. The Turkey Litigation Support Project, Human Rights Watch, and the International Commission of Jurists filed a third-party intervention (an amicus brief, or expert submission) with the court. The brief argues that Turkish authorities misuse detention and prosecution to keep opposition politicians out of elections and political life. İmamoğlu, a leading opposition figure, was arrested on March 19, 2025, and placed in pretrial detention the same day his party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), named him a candidate for a future presidential election. He remains detained, has been suspended as mayor, and faces charges including "establishing and leading a criminal organization," "accepting bribes," and "interfering with public tenders." His case at the Strasbourg court claims violations of the European Convention on Human Rights, including the right to liberty and security (article 5), limits on restrictions of rights (article 18), and the right to free elections (article 3 of Protocol No. 1). The rights groups say his detention is part of a wider crackdown. Between March 2025 and August 2026, 43 municipalities run by the CHP reportedly faced judicial proceedings, and 31 CHP mayors were detained. In May 2026, an Ankara regional court of appeal removed Özgür Özel as elected head of the CHP. Most of the party's members of parliament then left to form the New Party (Yeni Party) in July 2026. The groups compare the case to the 2016–17 arrests of leaders of the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). The ECHR previously ruled that those detentions, including those of co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ Şenoğlu, aimed at "stifling pluralism and limiting freedom of political debate, the very core of the concept of a democratic society." Aisling Reidy, senior legal advisor at Human Rights Watch, said the court "immediately ordered their release" in those cases and found Turkish authorities responsible for politically motivated detentions. The groups also argue that Turkey's courts have shown systematic disregard for legal safeguards, using "terrorism" and "organized crime" charges against elected officials. They say this creates a chilling effect that interferes with the right to run for office and with voters' right to their chosen representatives. The court will further examine whether Turkey violated article 18, which bans restricting rights for ulterior purposes. Since 2019, the ECHR has issued eight judgments finding Turkey in violation of article 18 in cases involving HDP politicians and human rights defender Osman Kavala. The brief also cites the erosion of judicial independence in Türkiye, including lower courts' failure to comply with Constitutional Court rulings, which it says leaves opposition politicians without meaningful protection at home. Temur Shakirov, director of the Europe and Central Asia Programme at the International Commission of Jurists, said the court should continue to apply "the closest scrutiny" to the prosecution and detention of opposition politicians in Türkiye.