Turkish opposition leader faces charges

Turkish opposition leader Ekrem İmamoğlu appeared in court for his first hearing yesterday. He faces more than 140 charges ranging from academic fraud to corruption to organized crime to treason and terrorism, carrying a maximum sentence of 2,430 years. İmamoğlu denies any wrongdoing and says President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is using the accusations to disqualify him so he can remain in power. It does fit a pattern of authoritarianism from Turkey’s leader, yet Turkey remains a member of nato. Surprisingly, an increasing number of people around the world find dictatorial leadership appealing, which the Bible warns is an ominous trend.