Imamoğlu makes first defense after 19 months: 'We are in an unprecedented historical period'

Detained Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has postponed his defense for 19 months, took the floor today in the new courtroom of Silivri Marmara High-Security Prison.

According to Cumhuriyet's on-the-spot reporting, the case continues on its 98th day with a total of 436 defendants, 53 of whom are detained. İmamoğlu had been removed from the courtroom without being able to make his defense at the first hearing of the case; he subsequently claimed to have exercised his right to silence.

According to the schedule announced by the presiding judge, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were allocated for İmamoğlu and his lawyers; the hearing will continue on Saturday, October 17. The interim decision will be announced after the defenses are completed.

Taking the floor at 12:05, İmamoğlu said of his co-defendants on trial together: "Each of their lives is a book; what happened here is a historical injustice." Recalling that among them are those who have recently lost their lives, İmamoğlu used the phrase, "I see each of my colleagues as a hero."

The İBB case has the distinction of being the most comprehensive trial of an elected municipal mayor in Turkey over the past decade. İmamoğlu has been detained; during his detention, a trustee was appointed to the İBB.