Baghdad: A Turkish court sentenced Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu to two years and one month in prison for allegedly insulting former Tuzla Mayor Sadi Yazici over statements he made years ago. Imamoglu appeared before the court in Silivri, Istanbul, for a retrial before the panel of judges found him guilty and handed down the sentence. The case concerned statements that the prosecution argued crossed the line of political criticism and constituted the crime of insult.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Imamoglu had previously been tried in the same case and acquitted twice. However, the Court of Appeals overturned the acquittals due to procedural irregularities, sending the case back to the lower court for reconsideration. Turkish reports indicated that the court also applied Article 53 of the Penal Code, which can restrict certain political rights if its conditions are met. However, this effect is not final as the verdict is subject to appeal before higher courts.

This current ruling means the legal process is not yet over, as the defense team can still appeal and challenge the verdict according to the legal procedures. Therefore, the sentence or any potential political impact cannot be considered final before the completion of the legal proceedings. The verdict comes amidst widespread political interest in the cases surrounding Imamoglu and his position within the Turkish opposition. The next phase is expected to focus on the reasoned judgment, the defense’s arguments, and the appeals court’s decision, avoiding premature conclusions about the final outcome.