ISTANBUL - Katarina Barley, Vice President of the European Parliament, was among the del-egation that visited the jailed politician in Istanbul's Silivri prison.
A delegation from the European Union, including Vice-President of the European Parliament Katarina Barley, has visited jailed Istanbul Mayor and Republican People's Party (CHP) presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is being held in Istanbul's Marmara Prison.
İmamoğlu was arrested on 19 of March on charges of corruption and links to a terrorist organisation and jailed days later. The Istanbul mayor is a key political challenger to Erdoğan's 22-year rule and many see his detention as politically motivated, although the government insists the judiciary is independent and free of political interference. Party of European Socialists (PES) President Stefan Löfven, Vice President of the European Parliament Katarina Barley, MEPs Dario Nardella and Evin İncir issued a statement following the visit. "The PES is in Istanbul to stand with the Turkish democratic opposition in their call to (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdoğan to stop the arrests and to free political prisoners," the statement read. After the visit, a post was also shared on İmamoğlu's X account. (Euronews)
