Global Media Reacts to Imamoğlu Indictment: “An Unprecedented Judicial Move Against Erdoğan’s Strongest Rival”

The sweeping indictment against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, seeking up to 2,352 years in prison, has ignited intense international scrutiny. From London to New York, Berlin to Tokyo, global media outlets describe the case as an extraordinary political and judicial moment in modern Turkish history—one that could reshape the nation’s political future.

The 4,000-page indictment, prepared 237 days after İmamoğlu’s initial detention, accuses him of being the “founder and leader of a criminal organization” allegedly responsible for ₺160 billion in state losses over a decade. The charges—142 counts in total—range from corruption and fraud to money laundering and abuse of office.

Financial Times: “A Process Designed to Eliminate Erdoğan’s Chief Rival”

The Financial Times (FT) called the indictment “a process aimed at sidelining İmamoğlu from politics altogether.” The paper emphasized that such a severe demand—2,352 years behind bars—was “unprecedented in modern Turkish history.”

According to FT, the indictment includes 402 defendants, marking it as one of the largest municipal corruption cases ever launched. The paper recalled the mass protests and financial turmoil that followed İmamoğlu’s arrest in March, noting that the Central Bank spent $50 billion defending the Turkish lira amid panic.

FT concluded that the case “may define Turkey’s political stability and investment climate for years to come.”

Bloomberg: “Markets Shaken by the Imamoğlu Case”

Bloomberg focused on the economic fallout, reporting that the Borsa Istanbul index fell 3.8% following news of the indictment, while 10-year government bond yields jumped 28 basis points.

The outlet ran its report under the headline: “Erdogan’s Strongest Rival Faces Over 2,000 Years in Prison.” Bloomberg noted that the development “raised new concerns among investors about the predictability of law in Turkey.”

Analysts cited by Bloomberg argued the case could upend the opposition’s 2028 election strategy and test İmamoğlu’s leadership within the Republican People’s Party (CHP).

BBC News: “142 Charges, 2,352 Years Requested”

The BBC described the indictment as “extraordinarily broad in scope,” highlighting that İmamoğlu faces 142 separate criminal charges.

“İmamoğlu is seen as Erdoğan’s strongest rival. His arrest triggered the largest street protests in Turkey in the past decade,” the BBC reported.

The network also quoted CHP leader Özgür Özel, who denounced the move:

“This case is not legal, it is entirely political. Its purpose is to stop the CHP and its presidential candidate.”

The BBC further noted that İmamoğlu is already facing ongoing espionage and fake diploma trials, jeopardizing his potential candidacy for the 2028 presidential elections.

The New York Times: “A Political Operation, Not a Legal Case”

The New York Times (NYT) described the indictment as “a new example of how President Erdoğan uses the judiciary to consolidate power.”

The NYT reported that Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Akın Gürlek framed İmamoğlu as an “organization leader” at the center of a network compared to “the arms of an octopus wrapping around the city.”

Quoting CHP Deputy Leader Ali Mahir Başarır, the paper wrote:

“Who wrote this indictment—Recep Tayyip Erdoğan himself? Democracy is under threat.”

The NYT underlined Istanbul’s symbolic importance for Erdoğan, recalling that his own political rise began as Istanbul’s mayor in 1994, and that İmamoğlu’s victories in 2019 and 2024 marked “a psychological and political rupture for the president.”

The paper warned that the trial could become a defining moment for Turkey’s democratic backslide, citing the mass detentions and nationwide protests that erupted after İmamoğlu’s arrest.

Der Spiegel: “Erdoğan’s Most Powerful Rival”

Germany’s Der Spiegel called the indictment “politically motivated” and “staged” (inszeniert), highlighting accusations of bribery, money laundering, and organized crime against İmamoğlu.

His lawyer Taşkın Özer told the magazine:

“This case is chaotic, inconsistent, and driven by fear—the fear that İmamoğlu could defeat Erdoğan.”

Der Spiegel added that Turkish authorities were expected to accept the indictment as a formality, paving the way for a trial in the coming days. The magazine described the case as “a step to eliminate Erdoğan’s political rival”, noting that it had already triggered the largest protest wave in a decade.

Beyond a Trial: A Test of the Republic’s Resilience

International outlets collectively view the trial as “more than a corruption case”—a test of Turkey’s rule of law and political integrity.

Many pointed out that İmamoğlu’s back-to-back victories in Istanbul’s municipal elections broke the ruling party’s 25-year hold over the city, a defeat that carried deep personal symbolism for Erdoğan.

As one editorial noted, “Control of Istanbul has become a personal matter for Erdoğan.”

The world will now be watching how Turkey’s judiciary handles a case that has already shaken domestic politics, financial markets, and global perceptions of the country’s democratic institutions.