Two statements in one day from İmamoğlu: 'My political criticisms are being investigated'

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu testified in the second investigation initiated due to his words in the IMM Case, after his statement within the scope of the investigation regarding the book "Nation is My Witness", in which he defended himself that he could not make in the first hearing.

Within the scope of the investigation carried out by the Silivri Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Civil Crimes Investigation Bureau, İmamoğlu's statement was taken in the Silivri Courthouse SEGBİS room accompanied by his lawyer Tora Beijing.

"THE NUMBER OF INVESTIGATIONS ABOUT ME HAS REACHED 20"

Stating that the number of investigations opened against him has reached 20, İmamoğlu said, "Mainly, my various statements are being investigated. My statements and criticisms of a political nature, which do not contain any praise or call for violence, are being made the subject of investigation and lawsuit."

Arguing that the prosecutor's office is trying to make a crime out of his words, İmamoğlu said, "They are pushing harder and harder. They are taking action for unnecessary reasons, they are constantly trying to make a crime out of my words."

“I AM NOT A JUDGE, I AM NOT A COURT”

Reacting to the words he used in the IMM Case being considered as a threat, İmamoğlu said:

"My words 'I do not defend, I will judge, I will judge, don't worry, I will judge those who make an indictment' were a crime of threat. I am not a judge. I am not a court. Obviously, I am not in a position to establish a court and conduct a trial. In this respect, it is clear that I use the concept of 'trial' in a figurative sense."

Stating that he criticized those who prepared the indictment, İmamoğlu said, "In my opinion, I will throw in their faces the slanders, lies and mistakes that have been poured into them. I will reveal my own facts."

“IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM, IT'S THEIR PROBLEM”

Regarding his words being considered a threat, İmamoğlu said, "What matters is the judgment of the nation, that is, the judgment they make. Is this a threat? If prosecutors and judges accept this as a threat, this is their problem, not mine."

İmamoğlu said, "I think a confident prosecutor or a judge would not be afraid of the word trial," and argued that an attempt was made to impose a crime on a concept that does not constitute a threat through the investigation.

“I MEAN THE PRACTICES OF THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL OF THE PERIOD”

The prosecutor's office asked İmamoğlu what he meant with the words "I will not defend, I will judge, I will judge, do not worry, I will judge those who made the indictment" and who he meant.

İmamoğlu said, "With these words, I meant the process and practices of the person who was then the Chief Public Prosecutor of Istanbul and who is now the Minister of Justice, in conducting the investigation. I have no personal intention towards those who wrote the indictment or the court panel. Moreover, it is not possible to understand the job description of the court panel from the description of those who made the indictment." he said.