Ekrem İmamoğlu's trial was moved to Silivri

The hearing address of the case where 12 people, including Presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been detained since March 2025, will be held on September 22, has been moved from Büyükçekmece Courthouse to Silivri.

According to journalist Zuhal Çiloğan, the hearing of the case on September 22, in which 12 defendants, including Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality President Ekrem İmamoğlu, are on trial, will be held in courtroom No. 4 in the Marmara Penitentiary Institutions Campus.

İMAMOĞLU WANTED TO DEFEND HIMSELF

In the file numbered 2026/113 of Büyükçekmece 21st Criminal Court of First Instance, the hearing date was determined as 22 September 2026 at 13.30.

In the court's interim decision dated September 11, it was stated that İmamoğlu's lawyer submitted a petition on September 9 and stated that his client wanted to defend himself face to face at the hearing.

REASON 'INSUFFICIENCY OF THE HALL CAPACITY'

The court evaluated that the physical capacity of the current hall would be insufficient, taking into account İmamoğlu's request for participation, the large number of defendants and lawyers, and the possible audience density.

Upon the request for a change of address, the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, in its letter dated September 11, informed the court that courtroom No. 4 within the Marmara Penitentiary Institutions Campus could be used on September 22-23, considering the number of parties and the type of crime in the file.