Istanbul mayor believes higher court will reverse main opposition ruling

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said on Friday he believed a court ruling sentencing the main opposition's Istanbul chairwoman to nearly 10 years in prison would be reversed by higher courts, adding that he was saddened by the decision.

A Turkish court on Friday sentenced the prominent opposition official for insulting the president and spreading terrorist propaganda, a lawmaker from the main opposition party said. Imamoglu was speaking to reporters in the coastal province of Izmir.