Six opposition parties to protest mayor’s conviction in front of city hall

Leaders of six opposition parties that form the Nation Alliance in Turkey will gather on Thursday in Sarachane Square in front of the city hall to protest the conviction of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Good Party leader Meral Aksener announced while she addressed the crowds along with Imamoglu, who vowed the “struggle will be stronger” from now on.

“Which madman could put a barrier in front of the nation, which madness could chain it?” Imamoglu said as thousands of supporters cheered rallied outside the municipality headquarters and chanted "Truth, law, justice."

A Turkish court sentenced İmamoglu to 2 years 7 months and 15 days in prison for insulting the members of an election board in a hearing on Wednesday where the court ruling also banned him from politics, a decision which needs to be finalized by the supreme court to be implemented.

"I am not at all concerned whether the court ruling will be finalized or not. One thing that is certain for me is this: This verdict by this corrupt order is null and void in my conscience," Imamoglu said.

The ruling comes just six months ahead of presidential elections, in which Imamoglu has been mooted as a possible leading challenger to Erdogan.