Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Began on Monday After a 41-Day Break, With 414 Defendants Including Mayor in Türkiye

The hearing was held in a new courtroom built opposite the Marmara Penitentiary Institutions, presided over by the Istanbul 33rd Heavy Penal Court. Detained defendants including İmamoğlu, along with some non-custodial defendants such as businessman Aziz İhsan Aktaş, musician Ercan Saatçi, İmamoğlu's father Hasan İmamoğlu and his son Mehmet Selim İmamoğlu, attended with their lawyers. Özgür Özel, leader of the New Party, also observed the proceedings.

The hearing started two hours late. Court President Selçuk Aylan said, "We started late due to courtroom arrangements, and announced they would proceed with the defenses of non-custodial defendants. İmamoğlu's lawyer Hasan Fehmi Demir criticized the size of the new courtroom, saying, "Excuse me, but this looks like the Maksim stage.

We hope the trial will be held at the Istanbul Courthouse because a fair trial cannot be conducted here. Demir noted that a defendant who has exercised the right to remain silent can always waive it and give a statement, adding, "We request that you begin the proceedings with our client's defense. Other defense lawyers also raised objections to the new courtroom.

Lawyer Hüseyin Ersöz asked about the purpose of microphones suspended from the ceiling. Some spectators were seen bringing binoculars due to the courtroom's size. After a one-hour break, Aylan responded to İmamoğlu's defense request: "Waiving the right to remain silent is the defendant's right.

Since he did not give a statement, we considered it as exercising that right. We will continue in order and take your defense at an appropriate time. There is no situation preventing a defense.