TURKEY: US "Gravely Concerned" By Sentencing Of Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu

The US State Department has issued a strongly worded statement criticising the sentencing of Istanbul Mayor, and key opposition figure, Ekrem Imamoglu, a move likely to further degrade relations between the US and NATO ally Turkey.

• Statement: "The United States is deeply troubled and disappointed by a Turkish court’s verdict against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, sentencing him to two years and seven months in prison and banning him from political activity.
• "His conviction is inconsistent with respect for human rights... We remain gravely concerned by the continued judicial harassment of civil society, media, political and business leaders in Turkey...
• "We urge the government to cease prosecutions under criminal “insult” laws, and to respect the rights and freedoms of all Turkish citizens..."
• Ragip Soylu at Middle East Eye speculated today that Imamoglu's sentence may improve his standing as an opposition candidate: "This latest court decision may present Imamoglu as the strongest possible candidate for the presidential nomination."
• Relations between the US and Turkey have been strained recently over Ankara's decision to purchase missile defence systems from Russia, the ongoing Turkish blockade of Finland and Sweden's NATO bids, Turkish military action against US-backed Kurdish groups in Syria, and Turkey's belligerent posturing towards Greece in an Aegean sovereignty dispute.