Turkiye court charges jailed opposition leader with ‘political espionage’

A Turkish court has filed new charges of political espionage against jailed opposition leader Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul's mayor and a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The charges stem from an investigation into alleged links with a businessman arrested in July for conducting foreign intelligence activities. Imamoglu was initially arrested in March on corruption charges, sparking nationwide protests; he later received a jail sentence for insulting the chief prosecutor of Istanbul. Imamoglu and his Republican People’s Party (CHP) claim these actions are part of a broader crackdown on opposition figures. The Turkish government maintains that its judiciary is independent and that the investigations are based on illegal activities. Imamoglu denies all charges, labeling them as slander and conspiracy.

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