Eylem Nazlıer
Dilan Temiz

---

The first hearing of the İBB case, in which 402 people are being tried, including the CHP's detained presidential candidate and İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu, has begun in Silivri.

The first hearing of the case, in which 402 people—including the CHP's detained presidential candidate and İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu—are being tried as part of the investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), has begun in Silivri under state of emergency (OHAL) conditions. The detained individuals entered the courtroom to applause. Gendarmerie forces attempted to prevent the detainees from waving to their relatives. The presiding judge stated that the hearing would be held four days a week and is planned to last approximately one and a half months.

The court delegation left the courtroom

The detained individuals entered the courtroom to applause. Gendarmerie forces attempted to prevent the detainees from waving to their relatives. The presiding judge stated that the hearing would be held four days a week and is planned to last approximately one and a half months.

Ekrem İmamoğlu requested to speak, but the presiding judge refused, saying, "I am not granting it; you cannot speak as you please." While İmamoğlu stated, "Victimised people cannot be treated this way," the presiding judge threatened to remove İmamoğlu from the courtroom.

Following the reactions rising from the courtroom, the presiding judge demanded the hall be cleared, saying, "I will not continue the trial in this manner." While the gendarmerie attempted to clear the gallery, the relatives of the detained defendants refused to leave. The court delegation left the courtroom.

Roads closed, courtroom inadequate…

In the indictment of approximately 3,900 pages, there are a total of 402 defendants, including 106 in detention, 170 under judicial control, and 7 sought with arrest warrants.

Heavy traffic formed from the early morning hours on the roads leading to the Marmara Closed Prison complex in Silivri, where the hearing is being held. Due to the closure of the roads, lawyers, journalists, citizens, and politicians were forced to walk to the courtroom. Because the area reserved for journalists in the courtroom was inadequate, many journalists had to watch the hearing either standing or from the screen in the press room.

Relatives of detainees arrived in colourful clothes

In addition to the relatives of those on trial, representatives from numerous political parties, trade unions, and mass organisations came to Silivri to follow the hearing.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, Party Spokesman Zeynel Emre, Deputy Group Chairman Ali Mahir Başarır, and Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik, as well as the elected Mayor of Esenyurt Ahmet Özer and many members of parliament, took their places in the courtroom. EMEP Chairman Seyit Aslan, Deputy Chairman and Istanbul MP İskender Bayhan, and Istanbul Provincial Chairwoman Sema Barbaros also followed the hearing. DİSK Chairwoman Arzu Çerkezoğlu, and TİP MPs Sera Kadıgil and Ahmet Şık were also among those following the hearing in the courtroom.

The relatives of the detainees stated that they wore colourful clothes to be easily noticed in the courtroom, saying, "We dressed in colours specifically so they would recognise us." Speaking to journalists in the courtroom before the hearing, Dilek İmamoğlu said: "We are tense and excited before the hearing. We requested that the hearing be broadcast live, but this request was not accepted. We hope for a trial without detention."

Welcomed with applause

The detained individuals entered the hall to applause. The defendants pending trial also took their places in the hall. Ekrem İmamoğlu was applauded for a long time when he entered the hall. As the detainees were taken into the hall, the audience said, "Guardians of Istanbul and the Republic, we are proud of you." The gendarmerie did not allow the detainees to wave to their relatives; however, the greetings continued following the reactions.

Expected to last approximately one and a half months

The presiding judge opened the hearing and provided information regarding the trial schedule. Stating that the hearing would be held four days a week and is planned to last approximately one and a half months, the presiding judge said that the detained defendants would be heard in the first session and the defendants pending trial in the second session. It was stated that the participation of the defendants pending trial in the hearings was left to their own initiative.

"Tayyip Erdoğan is trying to eliminate his rival"

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel also arrived at the Marmara Prison in Silivri for the case. In his first statement, he said, "This case is a conspiracy case. Tayyip Erdoğan is trying to eliminate his rival."

Özel said the following at the entrance:

"9 March, 9 March, here comes 9 March. Mr Tayyip was saying they would not be able to go out in public. In the last three days, we have gone out in public in five cities. Today, we came from among the people. He was saying they would not be able to look at each other's faces. Looking into the eyes of Turkey, I say that this case is a conspiracy case. Tayyip Erdoğan is trying to eliminate his rival. Because he knows he will not be able to win an election in Turkey again. He has attempted a coup against the government and the president who will follow him. The coup was repelled by the conscience of the nation. I have come to the case to complete the formal requirements of the coup process."

---

Timeline of Proceedings: The İBB Case (2020–2026)

2020 – 2024: The Background and "Diploma Controversy"

• February 2020: The first formal complaint is filed regarding the validity of İmamoğlu's undergraduate degree from Istanbul University, alleging an irregular transfer from Girne American University in 1990.

• 2024: After a new complaint, the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) initiates an investigation.

Early 2025: Escalation and Arrest

• 22 February 2025: The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office officially launches an investigation into "official document forgery" concerning İmamoğlu's diploma.

• 18 March 2025: Istanbul University Senate cancels the diplomas of 28 individuals, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, citing "irregular transfers." This occurs just four days before his expected confirmation as the CHP’s presidential candidate.

• 19 March 2025: In a massive early-morning operation, İmamoğlu is detained at his residence on charges including "forming a criminal organisation" and "corruption."

• 23 March 2025: A court orders the formal arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu. He is transferred to Marmara (Silivri) Prison.

Mid to Late 2025: The Indictment and New Charges

• 16 July 2025: In a separate "insult" case, İmamoğlu is sentenced to 1 year and 5 months in prison for allegedly insulting public officials.

• 26 October 2025: New charges of "political espionage" are added to his file after he provides a formal statement from prison.

• 11 November 2025: The massive 3,740-page İBB indictment is released to the public. It names 402 defendants (105 of whom are imprisoned) and labels İmamoğlu as the "leader of a criminal organisation."

• 25 November 2025: The Istanbul 40th High Criminal Court accepts the indictment.

Early 2026: Pre-Trial Developments

• 13 December 2025: The court sets the first hearing for 9 March 2026. Notably, the court estimates a maximum trial duration of 12.5 years (4,600 days).

• January 2026: Özgür Özel, Chairman of the CHP, announces that a key "secret witness" in the İBB case has withdrawn all testimony.

• 16 February 2026: A hearing for the "forgery of documents" (diploma) case is held in Silivri; İmamoğlu delivers a defiant speech, calling the process a "written script."

• 3 March 2026: The court issues a restrictive order for the 9 March hearing, limiting attendance to 25 journalists and only three lawyers per defendant.