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Justice Minister Akın Gürlek: “Courtrooms are Not Political Arenas”

Akın-Gürlek

Following the high-tension opening of the IBB Corruption Trial in Silivri, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek issued a firm statement on March 11, 2026, addressing the procedural disputes and the conduct of the imprisoned Presidential candidate and former Mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu.

“Defendant Ekrem”: Addressing the Naming Controversy

Minister Gürlek defended the presiding judge’s initial use of the phrase “Defendant Ekrem” (Sanık Ekrem), which had sparked outrage among CHP supporters and led the judge to eventually switch to “You” (Siz).

“In courtrooms, judges and prosecutors address individuals by their legal status. It is ‘Defendant Ali’ or ‘Defendant Ekrem.’ Their previous titles or duties do not matter here; everyone holds the status of a defendant,” Gürlek stated.

The Minister also dismissed the controversy regarding İmamoğlu’s blocked “greeting speech.” He clarified that court procedure does not recognize political or ceremonial speeches. “There is no such thing as a greeting speech. The individual, defendant Ekrem İmamoğlu, will make his defense on the day determined by the court,” he added.

Response to Bahçeli’s “Live Broadcast” Call

A significant development in the trial’s transparency debate came from MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli, who repeated his call for the proceedings to be broadcast live on television. Minister Gürlek noted that while he hears the demand, the current legal framework does not support it.

  • Legal Hurdles: Gürlek explained that under current legislation, live broadcasting of criminal trials is not permitted.

  • The TBMM’s Role: “A change in the law is required for live broadcasts. If the Parliament (Meclis) decides to intervene and change the regulations, then it can happen. For now, the judicial process continues under existing rules.”

Recap of the Silivri Tensions

The comments follow a chaotic first hearing at the Marmara Prison Complex, where:

  1. Impeded Speech: The judge threatened to expel İmamoğlu for attempting to speak before his turn.

  2. Sudden Adjournment: The judicial panel briefly left the room amidst the shouting, leading İmamoğlu to shout, “You didn’t come here to judge? You can’t just run away!”

  3. Audience Removal: The gallery was cleared following protests from CHP members of parliament.

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