Istanbul's infamous opposition mayor is back. Ekrem Imamoglu is calling on the CHP party to stop with the internal conflicts and focus on the big picture, the next local election. He has announced his pitch too. Imamoglu is setting out to defend the city. Ghadi francis gets you the report.

Istanbul opposition Mayor makes 2024 pitch

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said that he had "nothing to do" with the arrest of Istanbul's opposition mayor, because of which the latter won't be able to fray in the presidential election scheduled for June 2023.

The prison sentence of Ekrem Imamoglu, after his politically ignited defamation court trial, stirred an international storm. The mayor has been sentenced to imprisonment for two years and seven months after he insulted the Supreme Electoral Council's members in Turkey. As per reports, in a speech he gave in 2019, the mayor said that “those who cancelled March 31 elections are fools”.&nbsp;

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/explained-thousands-protest-in-turkey-over-istanbul-mayors-conviction-political-ban-543673">Explained: Thousands protest in Turkey over Istanbul mayor's conviction, political ban</a>

However, President Erdogan maintained that he had no role in the court's verdict.

"What is behind the storm sparked by a verdict these past few days? This debate has nothing to do with us — neither with me nor with our nation," said Erdogan, while making his first comments on the issue since the verdict was given on Wednesday.

"We laugh at all the false words uttered so surely by those seeing a political manoeuvre in the sentence. But we are sad to see that some are trying to conduct their games of thrones through us," he added, indicating that reactions to the court's verdict were a result of rivalries present within the opposition.&nbsp;

WATCH| Turkey: Headscarf debate reaches Parliament; Turkish feminists condemn Erdogan's move

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On Thursday, thousands of people protested in Istanbul in support of Imamoglu, who had established himself as an opposition candidate who can break the two-decade dominance of Erdogan over Turkish politics, after clinching his mayoral success.

The imprisonment of Imamoglu also received international criticism. On Thursday, the United States announced that it is "deeply troubled and disappointed" with his conviction and imposed a ban on any political activity, which eventually denies him to run for the presidency. Meanwhile, Germany called it a "harsh blow for democracy".

(With inputs from agencies)

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said that he had "nothing to do" with the arrest of Istanbul's opposition mayor, because of which the latter won't be able to fray in the presidential election scheduled for June 2023.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said that he had "nothing to do" with the arrest of Istanbul's opposition mayor, because of which the latter won't be able to fray in the presidential election scheduled for June 2023. The prison sentence of Ekrem Imamoglu, after his politically ignited defamation court trial, stirred an international storm. The mayor has been sentenced to imprisonment for two years and seven months after he insulted the Supreme Electoral Council's members in Turkey. As per reports, in a speech he gave in 2019, the mayor said that “those who cancelled March 31 elections are fools”. ALSO READ| Explained: Thousands protest in Turkey over Istanbul mayor's conviction, political ban However, President Erdogan maintained that he had no role in the court's verdict. "What is behind the storm sparked by a verdict these past few days? This debate has nothing to do with us — neither with me nor with our nation," said Erdogan, while making his first comments on the issue since the verdict was given on Wednesday. "We laugh at all the false words uttered so surely by those seeing a political manoeuvre in the sentence. But we are sad to see that some are trying to conduct their games of thrones through us," he added, indicating that reactions to the court's verdict were a result of rivalries present within the opposition. WATCH| Turkey: Headscarf debate reaches Parliament; Turkish feminists condemn Erdogan's move On Thursday, thousands of people protested in Istanbul in support of Imamoglu, who had established himself as an opposition candidate who can break the two-decade dominance of Erdogan over Turkish politics, after clinching his mayoral success. The imprisonment of Imamoglu also received international criticism. On Thursday, the United States announced that it is "deeply troubled and disappointed" with his conviction and imposed a ban on any political activity, which eventually denies him to run for the presidency. Meanwhile, Germany called it a "harsh blow for democracy". (With inputs from agencies)

President Erdogan says he has ‘nothing to do’ with conviction of Istanbul’s mayor

A Turkish court on Wednesday sentenced Istanbul’s popular opposition mayor to over two years jail in a politically charged defamation trial that effectively bars him from standing in next June’s presidential election.

Istanbul mayor gets over two years in prison and barred from politics

Istanbul mayor and Erdogan rival Imamoglu sentenced to jail

Istanbul's mayor&nbsp;Ekrem Imamoglu, is being probed for opposing&nbsp;President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's dream of building an alternative to the Bosphorus Strait, according to his spokesman.

While,&nbsp;Erdogan argues that the new Istanbul canal, which he has dubbed one of his "crazy projects", would relieve pressure on one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.&nbsp;Istanbul's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, whose election last year saw Erdogan's ruling AK Party lose its 25-year grip on Turkey's largest city, has been a vocal opponent of the project on financial and environmental grounds.

The Bosphorus creates a border between Europe and Asia, splitting Istanbul in two as it runs between the Black and Marmara Seas.

The proposed 75-billion-lira ($9.8-billion) alternative would run to the west of the Bosphorus along a new 45-kilometre (28-mile) route.

The investigation by the ministry's property inspectorate is focused on posters containing the phrases, "Either Canal or Istanbul" and "Who needs Canal Istanbul?", Imamoglu's spokesman Murat Ongun tweeted.

The investigation was started on the grounds that the posters violated articles of the constitution prohibiting public resources from being used against "the integrity of the administration and state policy," Ongun said.

Critics say the project would destroy nature and could even worsen the earthquake risk in the city of more than 15 million people.

Istanbul's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, is being probed for opposing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's dream of building an alternative to the Bosphorus Strait, according to his spokesman.

Istanbul's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, is being probed for opposing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's dream of building an alternative to the Bosphorus Strait, according to his spokesman. While, Erdogan argues that the new Istanbul canal, which he has dubbed one of his "crazy projects", would relieve pressure on one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Istanbul's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, whose election last year saw Erdogan's ruling AK Party lose its 25-year grip on Turkey's largest city, has been a vocal opponent of the project on financial and environmental grounds. The Bosphorus creates a border between Europe and Asia, splitting Istanbul in two as it runs between the Black and Marmara Seas. The proposed 75-billion-lira ($9.8-billion) alternative would run to the west of the Bosphorus along a new 45-kilometre (28-mile) route. The investigation by the ministry's property inspectorate is focused on posters containing the phrases, "Either Canal or Istanbul" and "Who needs Canal Istanbul?", Imamoglu's spokesman Murat Ongun tweeted. The investigation was started on the grounds that the posters violated articles of the constitution prohibiting public resources from being used against "the integrity of the administration and state policy," Ongun said. Critics say the project would destroy nature and could even worsen the earthquake risk in the city of more than 15 million people.

Istanbul's mayor being investigated for opposing Erdogan's dream project

The Turkey's election board has ordered rerun for Istanbul mayor. Watch full video to know more.

Turkey orders re-election for Istanbul Mayor

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