Turkish justice minister warns against politicizing Istanbul Mayor’s legal process

In the first official statement from the Turkish government regarding the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç stressed the importance of respecting the independence of the judiciary and urged the public to refrain from commenting on the case, emphasizing the need to avoid influencing the legal process.

Tunç, in a social media post, addressed the ongoing judicial proceedings and called for caution, especially from those in positions of authority. He reminded citizens that judges are bound to base their decisions on the evidence, allegations, and defense presented in court, Caliber.Az reports per Turkish media.

"Judges are bound by the contents of the case in issuing verdicts in investigations and prosecution and come to a legal conclusion based on evidence, allegations, and defense. Therefore, it is wrong to define an ongoing judicial prosecution as a political prosecution," Tunç wrote. He further noted that turning a legal matter into a political issue could mislead the public and undermine the principle of the rule of law.

Tunç underscored the importance of public trust in the judiciary, stating that all comments on the case should be made cautiously to preserve the integrity of the legal process. "Shifting legal interpretation to a political ground may cause public misperception and contradict the principle of the state of law," he added.

The arrest of İmamoğlu has sparked political tensions, with his party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), accusing the government of using the legal process for political purposes. However, Tunç emphasized that the case must be allowed to unfold without undue interference. "It is essential to await all aspects of the process to be concluded in line with trust in the principle of the state of law and trust in the judiciary," he stated.

The CHP and İmamoğlu have denied the accusations against him, despite mounting evidence, and have instead accused the government of politicizing the case. In response, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the controversy during an event in Istanbul, stating that it was the CHP, not the government, that was attempting to politicize the matter.

"If you have the courage, let democracy work, let the rule of law prevail," Erdoğan said, urging the CHP to respect the judicial process. "If you have the heart, let the courts make their decisions on behalf of the Turkish nation without any pressure. Let right and wrong, innocence and guilt, be determined by the law."

Erdoğan went on to criticize the CHP for what he described as an atmosphere of "panic and aggression" within the party, questioning why its leadership appeared to be so fearful. "You used to say there was no stain on your party. You used to preach transparency and honesty. What changed now?" he asked.

The president also denounced the corruption allegations surrounding the CHP, claiming they had not only disturbed the public but had also caused concern within the party itself. "The filth that has been revealed is not only troubling us and our nation but also those within the CHP who have a conscience," Erdoğan stated.

In his remarks, Erdoğan further criticized the CHP’s alleged ties to marginal extremist groups and its attempts to disrupt public order, declaring, "The days of taking to the streets with marginal groups and vandals to challenge the national will are over."

Finally, the president reaffirmed his stance that no one is above the law in Türkiye. "Whether you accept it or not, no one in Türkiye is outside the scope of the law. There is no privileged minority with the freedom to commit crimes, and there never will be," Erdoğan concluded.

By Vafa Guliyeva