The U.S. State Department has expressed concern over a Turkish court’s sentencing of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) to two years and seven months in prison for insulting members of the country’s High Electoral Council (YSK).
US State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said his office is «deeply concerned and disappointed by today’s sentencing of the mayor of Istanbul,» as the charges «are aimed at restricting his exercise of freedom of expression.»
«This unjust sentence is incompatible with respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, and we remain deeply concerned about the continued accusations against civil society, media, political and business leaders in Turkey and his prolonged pre-trial detention,» the deputy spokesman lamented.
In this regard, Patel recalled that «the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association are fundamental to any healthy democracy.»
«We continue to urge Turkey to respect these fundamental freedoms and bring this case to a just and speedy resolution,» he added in statements to the media.
Turkey’s judiciary on Wednesday sentenced Imamoglu, one of the main political rivals of the country’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to two years and seven months, imposing a period of disqualification against him, which could mean his departure from his position at the helm of the mayor’s office of Turkey’s largest city.
However, the CHP politician is expected to appeal the court decision, according to reports in the daily ‘Hurriyet’. In previous court hearings, Imamoglu denied insulting council members and said his words were a response to those of Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, whom he reportedly called an «idiot.»
Imamoglu won the Istanbul mayoralty by a narrow margin in the March 2019 elections, in which he faced an Erdogan ally. The results were rejected by the relevant authorities and, after a new vote was held in June 2019, he won with a larger margin, which was a major setback for the president and the ruling party.
