The hearing took place at the Silivri prison complex west of Istanbul, where İmamoğlu has been held for nearly a year. Prosecutors accuse him and more than 400 defendants linked to the Istanbul municipality of corruption and bribery, charges he and his Republican People’s Party deny. Outside the courthouse, lawyers, journalists and opposition supporters gathered under heavy security. İmamoğlu is widely seen as one of the main political challengers to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has dominated Turkish politics for more than two decades. The government rejects accusations of political interference and says the judiciary operates independently.
