http://dx.doi.org/10.59704/11c757ea52fbdcfb https://verfassungsblog.de/autocratic-legalism-vs-lawfare/ Autocratic Legalism vs. Lawfare - Turkey’s Presidential Candidate Behind the Bars Kars Kaynar, Ayşegül eng 2025-10-14 electronic resource text/html ddc:342 Autocratic Legalism Democratic Backsliding fool case law fare Verfassungsblog Verfassungsblog--2366-7044 CC BY-SA 4.0 Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Istanbul, has been imprisoned for 200 days without indictment as the Turkish government weaponizes the judiciary to eliminate political opposition. This case exemplifies a shift from autocratic legalism to "lawfare," where legal tools are used strategically to suppress democratic competition. İmamoğlu’s situation reveals the deepening authoritarianism in Turkey as the ruling regime abandons fair elections in favor of coercive control.