The international outcry over the prison sentence of the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu.

Washington expressed "deeply troubled and disappointed" over the decision, Berlin spoke of a "severe blow to democracy" and France called on Turkey "to urgently reverse the negative trends in the field of the Rule of Law, democracy and respect for fundamental rights".

İmamoğlu was convicted of "insulting" members of Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council and sentenced to two years and seven months in prison.

The Turkish court also imposed a political ban that prevents him from standing for election over the same period.

İmamoğlu was elected to lead Istanbul, Turkey's most populous city, in March 2019. His win was a historic blow to Erdoğan's ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, which had controlled Istanbul for 25 years.

Istanbul's mayor, of Turkified Greek origins from the Black Sea region of Pontus, is seen as a rising star of Turkish politics and a potential candidate to challenge President Erdogan in June's elections.

İmamoğlu has always professed his "confidence in Turkish justice" and is expected to appeal the court's ruling.

https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/12/22/ekrem-imamoglu-erdogan-west/