Wikipedia
Turkish Police have detained the mayor of Istanbul as part of investigations into alleged corruption and connections to terrorism.
Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was apprehended on Wednesday morning. The state-run Anadolu Agency reported that prosecutors had issued detention orders for Imamoglu and approximately 100 others.
In a video message, Imamoglu stated, “We are confronting significant oppression, but I want you to understand that I will not be disheartened.” He accused the government of “overriding the will” of the populace.
In response to Imamoglu’s arrest, authorities cordoned off roads in Istanbul to deter protests; however, around 100 individuals gathered at the police station where he was taken, voicing anti-government chants.
Local news outlets indicated that students at Istanbul University breached police barriers during a protest on Wednesday, prompting police to deploy tear gas.
Imamoglu was elected as the mayor of Turkey’s largest city in March 2019, marking a significant defeat for Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AK Party), which had held power in Istanbul for 25 years. Despite the AK Party’s efforts to annul the municipal election results in the city of 16 million, a subsequent election months later resulted in another victory for Imamoglu.
Imamoglu successfully maintained his position after last year’s local elections, where his Republican People’s Party (CHP) made notable progress against the AK Party. Despite this, the AK Party remained the overall victor nationwide, leading to internal criticism within the CHP regarding its leadership, rivalries, and strategic approach.
On Tuesday, a university in Istanbul revoked Imamoglu’s diploma, which effectively disqualifies him from participating in the upcoming presidential election, as possessing a university degree is a legal requirement for candidates in Turkey.
Imamoglu announced his intention to contest this ruling.
The CHP, the primary opposition party, was scheduled to conduct a primary on Sunday, where Imamoglu was anticipated to be nominated as its candidate for future elections. However, this vote is now unlikely to take place.
The next presidential election in Turkey is set for 2028, although early elections could occur.
Ozgur Ozel, the chairman of the CHP, condemned Imamoglu’s disqualification as a “coup.”
“There is currently a regime in place that seeks to prevent the nation from choosing its next president,” he stated. “We are witnessing an attempted coup against our future president.”
Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu, reporting from Diyarbakir, noted that those detained include notable journalists and business leaders.
“Key opposition figures have condemned the decision, asserting that it is unlawful and illegitimate,” she reported.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc informed the media that the arrests were unrelated to the government.
“Connecting judicial investigations and cases to our President is, at the very least, presumptuous and inappropriate,” he remarked.
Erdogan’s communications office stated that the presidency would continue to defend him against what it termed an “irrational smear campaign.”
