Majority of Turks find Mayor İmamoğlu’s sentence 'not fair'

Duvar English

Some 64 percent of Turkish citizens find the conviction of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu “not fair,” according to a survey conducted by polling firm Türkiye Raporu (Turkey Report).

Turkey Report Director Can Selçuki shared the survey results.

A Turkish court on Dec. 14 sentenced Mayor İmamoğlu from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) to two years and seven months in prison on charges of “insulting” 11 members of Turkey's High Election Board (YSK). The court also imposed a political ban on İmamoğlu, a popular rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which must be confirmed by an appeals court before application.

The Turkey Report survey asked citizens “Do you find the court’s decision on İmamoğlu fair?”

Accordingly, some 64 percent of Turkish citizens find the conviction “not fair.” 

Majority of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) voters also think that the conviction was “not fair.” Accordingly, 35.9 percent of AKP find the conviction “not fair,” whereas 31.8 percent find it “fair.”

The figure for “not fair” answers was higher for the ruling alliance Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) voters. Accordingly, 52.2 percent of the MHP voters find the conviction “not fair,” whereas 26.7 percent find it “fair.”

On the other hand, 96 percent of the CHP voters find the conviction “not fair,” whereas this figure was 93.9 percent for the opposition Good (İYİ) Party voters.

Moreover, some 62 percent of Turkish citizens find the conviction as a “political decision,” rather than “legal.”

Turkish court gives jail term, political ban to Istanbul Mayor İmamoğluPolitics

Top Turkish business group chair says political ban has no place in democraciesEconomy

Erdoğan on Istanbul Mayor İmamoğlu's sentence: 'Courts will fix any mistakes if there is'Politics

Opposition leaders hold rally to support Istanbul Mayor İmamoğluPolitics

Thousands protest Istanbul Mayor İmamoğlu's conviction in front of municipality buildingPolitics