“France recalls its commitment to freedom of opinion and expression and the importance of respecting the rules of the rule of law in a democracy,” said the spokeswoman for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Paris today condemned an attempt to oust Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a Turkish opposition figure who was sentenced to more than two years in prison and banned from political activity, six months before crucial elections in Turkey.
The 52-year-old mayor is considered a possible candidate for the June 2023 presidential election against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“It is with deep concern that we learned of the conviction of the mayor of Istanbul, Mr. Ekrem Imamoglu,” said Anne-Claire Legendre, spokeswoman for the French foreign ministry.
“France recalls its commitment to freedom of opinion and expression and the importance of respecting the rules of the rule of law in a democracy,” he added, urging Turkey “to urgently reverse all the negative trends at work regarding the rule of law, democracy and respect for fundamental rights”.
Imamoglu has decided to appeal his sentence of two years, seven months and fifteen days in prison, his lawyer, Kemal Polat, told AFP yesterday. As the appeal has a suspensive nature, he clarified, Imamoglu will remain mayor until the case is heard in the second instance.
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