Turkish opposition cries foul over revived legal case against Ankara mayor

Source:Financial Times Date:11Dec2023

The justice ministry is seeking to overturn a 2021 court decision not to proceed with a defamation case against Ankara mayor Mansur Yavaş, one of the leading figures in Turkey’s political opposition, according to documents seen by the Financial Times.  The move to reopen the case, which was made in late October but has not been previously reported, comes ahead of crucial local elections in March, when President Erdoğan’s Justice and Development party (AKP) will seek to seize back control of Turkey’s two biggest cities, Istanbul and Ankara.