The delegation had planned to present him with a democracy award but instead handed it to his wife, who read his letter vowing resilience after five months in detention. İmamoğlu was arrested in March with hundreds of opposition figures on corruption and terrorism charges the CHP dismisses as politically motivated. ,br><br> Once seen as President Erdoğan’s strongest challenger, his jailing has fueled weekly opposition rallies and heightened scrutiny over Turkey’s shrinking democratic freedoms.