In the following video, I tried to explain the injustice of justice in Turkey using various sources, observations, experiences, and my knowledge. The issue is not Ekrem Imamoglu; the issue is injustice.
Video Summary (AI):
The video critiques Turkey’s legal and political system, focusing on the judicial actions taken against Ekrem İmamoğlu and the lawlessness during the AKP era. It discusses İmamoğlu’s trials on charges of corruption, bribery, money laundering, and terrorism, suggesting that the timing of these allegations is suspicious and politically motivated.
The video also points to scandals during the AKP period, such as the December 17-25 corruption operations and the Ergenekon trials, highlighting the erosion of judicial independence and the use of the judiciary for political purposes. It addresses human rights violations, detentions following earthquakes, pressures on journalists, and corruption incidents.
The speaker emphasizes that the youth and the public are systematically oppressed, stressing that overcoming hopeless situations is possible through hard work and access to accurate information. They argue that leaving the country is not a permanent solution and that returning to fight for solutions to Turkey’s deep-rooted problems is necessary.
Finally, the video touches on issues like street living and the ignorance of civil society, underscoring the importance of individual and collective responsibility while calling on viewers not to lose hope.
Source (Researched by Me and Edited by AI)
The following text reflects a critical perspective on some recent political and legal debates in Turkey. The information and data included here are based on publicly discussed reports, news articles, and documents. As is always the case with political and legal processes, there are different interpretations and viewpoints regarding these matters.
Allegations of Unlawfulness Against Ekrem İmamoğlu
1. Developments During the Election Process
• The annulment of the March 31, 2019 Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality election and the rerun held on June 23 became a long-debated issue in Turkey. The Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) cited the “improper appointment of ballot box committee members” as the main reason. However, many legal experts and political commentators pointed out the contradiction that while district mayor and headman elections conducted with the same committee members were considered valid, only the metropolitan election results were annulled.
• After this annulment, Ekrem İmamoğlu was re-elected as the Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor with a clear margin. The allegation that “the March 31 election was unjustly annulled against İmamoğlu” was also shared by a significant portion of the electorate according to public opinion polls conducted at the time (e.g., KONDA, Metropoll).
2. Lawsuits During His Term
• After İmamoğlu took office, lawsuits and investigations initiated against him were viewed by the political opposition as attempts to suppress him.
• For instance, the lawsuit filed against him on charges of “insulting the members of the Supreme Electoral Council” was criticized by many legal professionals as politically motivated.
• Additionally, after İmamoğlu initiated audits, staff changes, and financial inspections at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, numerous inspections and investigations were launched against the municipality. Political scientists compared these numbers to past administrations and highlighted that “such frequent inspections did not occur during previous terms,” indicating an imbalance.
3. Allegations of Double Standards Regarding Public Resources
• After İmamoğlu’s election, the restriction or transfer of some authorities of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) to the central government also drew reactions from the opposition. Due to the municipal council being dominated by another party (AKP), some IMM projects could not get approval or were delayed.
• For example, there were reports that the municipal council obstructed decision-making regarding borrowing authorizations, budget regulations, and public transportation subsidies. According to media reports (e.g., June 2020 period), some project loan requests by IMM were repeatedly rejected by the council.
Allegations of Unlawfulness and Cover-ups During Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Rule
1. Criticisms of Judicial Independence
• The issue of judicial independence and impartiality has been intensely debated in Turkey, especially since the mid-2010s. Reports by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe frequently cited political pressure on judges and prosecutors and politically influenced appointments.
• The justice system was often criticized due to judges allegedly close to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) delivering rulings in critical cases. For example, the dismissal of the 2013 December 17-25 corruption investigations based on non-acceptance of audio recordings and other evidence by the courts was interpreted by opposition parties as a “cover-up of corruption allegations.”
2. Restrictions on Press and Freedom of Expression
• Turkey has significantly declined in international press freedom rankings in recent years. According to the World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Turkey ranked 149th out of 180 countries in 2022, whereas in 2013, it was ranked 154th. Although there were fluctuations, the general trend remained poor.
• Similarly, Turkey was downgraded from “partly free” to “not free” by Freedom House’s “Freedom in the World” reports. These developments are explained by arrests of opposition journalists, trustee appointments to media outlets, and the closure of critical TV channels.
3. Political Trials and Arrests
• During the AKP government, mass arrest decisions targeting prominent politicians, journalists, academics, and activists were described by opposition and international organizations as tools of political oppression.
• For instance, many people who participated in or supported the Gezi Park protests were later prosecuted on various charges. Reports by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International highlighted the insufficiency of evidence in these cases.
• Moreover, the refusal of some local courts to comply with rulings from the Constitutional Court and the ECHR was considered a violation of the rule of law, especially in relation to the prolonged detention of journalists and politicians like Osman Kavala and Selahattin Demirtaş.
4. Lack of Transparency in Public Tender Processes
• Public tenders during Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s rule were often criticized for being conducted under “exceptional” procedures. Court of Accounts reports noted that some major projects funded by the general budget (such as city hospitals, bridges, and highways) lacked transparency and contained incomplete information in audit reports.
• Turkey has consistently declined in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index since 2013, dropping from 53rd to 101st place by 2022. This decline is linked to both the failure to investigate corruption allegations and the lack of transparency in tenders.
Conclusion and Assessment
The legal processes against Ekrem İmamoğlu are interpreted by opposition circles as an attempt to suppress political competition through judicial means. From the annulment of the elections to insult lawsuits, from restrictions on the use of municipal resources to investigations, many events have made İmamoğlu’s tenure more challenging. The most significant criticism in this process is that judicial independence has been undermined and that the judiciary is being used for political purposes.
The allegations of unlawfulness and cover-ups during Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the AKP government’s period are associated with issues such as judicial impartiality, restrictions on press and freedom of expression, lack of transparency in major project tenders, and the fate of corruption investigations. International reports indicate a steady decline in Turkey’s democracy and human rights standards, attributing this mainly to compromised judicial independence and suppression of criticism against the government.
These data and reports underline that political polarization in Turkey has reached serious levels and that independent and impartial institutions are crucial for the development of the rule of law and democracy. While the opposition claims that judicial or central government pressure is especially applied to successful local government figures, the government argues that these actions are within the legal framework and serve the “public interest.”
Ultimately, one of the few points on which everyone agrees in Turkey is the need to restore confidence in the judiciary, establish a transparent and accountable administrative structure, protect freedom of expression, and guarantee fair and equal competition throughout the electoral processes. Achieving these goals would improve democratic standards and strengthen social peace.
Article
Tabii! İşte yazının özgün, güçlü ve akıcı bir İngilizce çevirisi:
Unlawful Acts Against Ekrem İmamoğlu and the Reality of Corruption Under the AKP Era
In recent years, Turkey has been going through serious tests in terms of justice, democracy, and human rights. Especially the judicial interventions targeting Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu are not just aimed at an individual; they are direct interventions against the will of millions of voters. In this article, I will examine both the injustices faced by İmamoğlu and the widespread corruption and unlawful practices during the AKP era, supported by data and sources.
1. Systematic Pressure on Ekrem İmamoğlu
İmamoğlu has become one of the most prominent symbols of the opposition in Turkey. However, this position seems to have seriously disturbed the ruling bloc.
The “Fools” Case and the Risk of Political Ban
After the 2019 elections, İmamoğlu was sentenced to 2 years, 7 months, and 15 days in prison along with a political ban for saying, “those who canceled the election are fools.” This statement was a response to Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, who had previously called him a fool. However, only İmamoğlu was punished. Human Rights Watch (HRW) described this decision as a direct attack on freedom of expression.
🔗 HRW: Conviction of Ekrem İmamoğlu
The 2025 Arrest and Its Political Impact
On March 19, 2025, İmamoğlu was detained at his home and arrested the same day on charges of corruption, links to a terrorist organization, and bribery. This event was not just a legal case, but a political turning point. It also had severe economic consequences: the Turkish lira lost 14.5% of its value against the dollar, and Borsa Istanbul dropped by 8.72%.
🔗 BBC: Arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu
New Cases and Allegations of Judicial Manipulation
Throughout 2025, two more indictments were prepared against İmamoğlu, one accusing him of interfering with the judiciary. The portrayal of a mayor being prosecuted for merely expressing criticism raises serious alarms regarding the state of the rule of law.
🔗 Reuters: New Indictment Against İmamoğlu
2. Corruption and Erosion of Justice Under the AKP Era
It is not just İmamoğlu — many opposition figures and institutions have faced similar pressure over the past 20 years. Moreover, how state resources have been used has often become a matter of public concern.
The Major Corruption Operation of 2013
The corruption investigations of December 17-25, 2013, involving four ministers, marked a critical turning point. However, these investigations were suppressed, the prosecutors were dismissed, and the cases were covered up.
🔗 Turkey Analyst: AKP’s Corruption Scandals
Crony Capitalism: Channeling Public Resources to Allies
During the AKP era, a model often referred to as “crony capitalism” became widespread. Public tenders lost their transparency and started favoring specific companies. Large-scale projects, such as Kanal Istanbul, served private interest groups rather than the public good.
🔗 Hurriyet Daily News: Crony Capitalism in Turkey
🔗 Turkey Analyst: Kanal Istanbul and Crony Capitalism
Deniz Feneri and Other Scandals
The Deniz Feneri e.V. scandal, in which millions of euros collected in Germany were funneled into Turkish media and corporations, remains one of the most notorious corruption cases of the AKP era.
3. Human Rights Violations: The Reality Revealed by 2023 Data
Under the AKP’s rule, human rights defenders, journalists, and activists have increasingly faced pressure. Here are some of the most significant violations according to 2023 data:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Freedom of Expression | 257 people were detained for criticizing the government’s earthquake response. Notable figures like Gülşen, Sezgin Tanrıkulu, and Sinan Aygül faced trials. |
| Freedom of Assembly | 224 were detained during the Pride March, 187 during the Suruç commemoration, and 50 during the Akbelen Forest protests. |
| Violence Against Women | 315 women were victims of femicide, and 248 women died under suspicious circumstances. |
| LGBTI+ Rights | Hate speech and discriminatory broadcasts, supported by the RTÜK (Turkey’s media watchdog), increased. |
| Judicial Independence | The Osman Kavala and Can Atalay cases clearly reflected the declining state of judicial independence. |
🔗 Amnesty International: Turkey Human Rights Report
Conclusion: Lessons to Be Learned
The unlawful actions against İmamoğlu and the corruption throughout the AKP era are not just political cases — they are contemporary reflections of Turkey’s struggle for democracy. Defending the rule of law and freedom of expression is not solely the responsibility of politicians; it is also the duty of every citizen.
Democracy is not just about holding elections. In a country where justice does not operate independently, it is hard to speak of a true democracy. Therefore, recording, discussing, and demanding accountability for these events is the first step to understanding the present and building the future.
