Erdoğan's Rival Ejected from Court as Turkey Hosts NATO Summit

On July 8, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu—Erdoğan's chief political rival—was ejected from a corruption trial held in a specially built courtroom at Silivri prison. The same day, President Erdoğan hosted NATO heads of state in Ankara. The main defence hearing, spanning July 6–9, involves over 400 defendants. European observers have flagged concerns about fair-trial standards, citing restricted media access and questions around procedural conduct.