Ekrem İmamoğlu has remained in pretrial detention since his March 2025 arrest on corruption and organized crime charges tied to Istanbul municipal contracts, with prosecutors seeking sentences up to 2,430 years. The 96th hearing of the 436-defendant case concluded in October 2026 with defense statements still underway at Marmara Prison, showing no procedural path to release before year-end. Additional rulings, including a September 2026 conviction carrying a political ban and a separate two-year term for insulting a public official, have reinforced his custody status amid ongoing appeals and related investigations. Recent actions such as the banning of his book and continued trustee appointments in opposition municipalities further signal sustained judicial pressure through the remainder of 2026.