Istanbul's jailed opposition mayor appeared in court on Friday in one of a number of cases brought against him.
Hundreds of his supporters gathered outside Silivri prison, west of Istanbul, where the hearing was held.
Ekrem Imamoglu has been in Silivri since March 23. The indictment alleges he threatened a prosecutor and is one of six cases filed before his arrest last month, which sparked nationwide protests.
Addressing the judge, Imamoglu said he was in court because he had won three elections against a man “who considers himself the owner of Istanbul,” referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who began his political career as the city’s mayor in the 1990s.
Mr. Erdogan is actively supporting his party's candidates against Imamoglu.
Imamoglu's wife and son, as well as members of parliament from the Republican People's Party (CHP), were present at the hearing, Halk TV and other media reported.
The case was adjourned until June 16.
The mayor, who is also the main opposition challenger to Mr Erdogan's 22-year rule in upcoming elections, faces more than seven years in prison and political disqualification for allegedly “harassing, threatening and insulting individuals working in the fight against terrorism”.
The charges came after his comments on January 20 in which he criticized Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Akin Gurlek for criminal cases brought against other opposition figures.
Imamoglu was arrested on March 19 in connection with two investigations: one into corruption in the Istanbul municipality and the other into alleged terrorism links in his party's election pact with pro-Kurdish politicians.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
