[108865] A Dramatic Day in the Istanbul Municipality Trial: Sharp Confrontations and the Removal of Ekrem İmamoğlu

A Stormy Day in Court: İmamoğlu Removed and Defense Attorneys Walk Out

The 61st hearing of the Istanbul Municipality (İBB) trial turned into a scene of sharp confrontation. According to Gündem Hattı, Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was removed from the courtroom by the presiding judge following a heated argument. The confrontation led to the invocation of Article 203 of the Criminal Procedure Code, while simultaneously, defense attorneys walked out of the courtroom in protest, claiming: "If there is no right to defense, there is no justice," as reported by Halk TV.

At the same time, serious allegations were raised regarding the management of the proceedings. Ekrem İmamoğlu expressed his protest over the pressure exerted by the court to conclude the hearings by July 9, noting that he is required to appear in three different legal proceedings on that same day. İmamoğlu questioned: "What human logic is there in a person being forced to prepare a defense in three different courts on one day?"

The tension in the courtroom peaked when Members of Parliament Sezgin Tanrıkulu and Suat Özçağdaş were removed from the hall after protesting the decisions. The presiding judge responded sharply, saying: "No one can behave in a disgraceful manner here just because they are a member of parliament." Simultaneously, it was reported by TGRT HABER and Sondakika Haber Gündem that the defendant Tuncay Yılmaz was taken to the hospital due to a spike in blood pressure during the hearing.

In the background of these events, accusations of corruption within the municipality are emerging. According to gdh, a witness in court claimed that "100 apartments were allocated to specific names" at the company KİPTAŞ as part of what was dubbed a "VIP list." The trial, which accuses İmamoğlu of running an "organized crime organization," remains a focal point of deep political tension in Turkey.