US “deeply troubled and disappointed” by Imamoglu verdict

The U.S. State Department is "deeply troubled and disappointed" by a Turkish court handing a jail sentence and a political ban to Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Wednesday.

"This unjust sentence is inconsistent with respect for human rights, with respect to fundamental freedoms and rule of law," Patel said. "We remain gravely concerned by the continued indictment of civil society, media, political and business leaders in Turkey and their prolonged pretrial detention."

A Turkish court on Wednesday sentenced Imamoglu to over two years of jail for insulting the members of an election board in a hearing where the court ruling also banned him from politics, a decision which needs to be finalized by the supreme court to be implemented.