ISTANBUL — On Wednesday, a mayor affiliated with Turkey’s leading opposition party was taken into custody on suspicions of having ties to a prohibited Kurdish militant organization, as reported by state-run media.

Ahmet Ozer, the mayor of the Esenyurt district in Istanbul and a member of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), was arrested by anti-terrorism units over purported associations with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

This arrest unfolds amid discussions in Turkey surrounding a potential peace initiative aimed at resolving a conflict that has persisted for 40 years between the PKK and the Turkish authorities, resulting in numerous fatalities.

At 64 years old, Ozer brings with him a background in academia and hails from the eastern province of Van. He secured his position as the mayor of Esenyurt, located on Istanbul’s European side, during the local elections held in March.

According to the state-operated Anadolu news agency, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that the findings of an investigation indicated that Ozer had ongoing communications with individuals linked to the PKK for over a decade.

As part of the inquiry, authorities conducted searches at his residence, vehicle, and municipal office early Wednesday morning.

Ozgur Ozel, leader of the CHP, denounced the mayor’s arrest, describing it as “a pernicious game, a vast conspiracy,” and suggested that it was influenced by recent political circumstances.

In a statement on social media, Ozel remarked, “The treatment of an academic, opinion leader, and public figure who was elected with overwhelming support from Esenyurt residents … is unjust and the accusations are unfounded.”

A pattern has emerged where politicians and members of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish factions face actions based on alleged PKK affiliations, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.

Numerous lawmakers have had their parliamentary roles revoked, and many mayors have been dismissed from their positions. Since 2016, various lawmakers and thousands of party affiliates have been incarcerated on terrorism-related allegations.

While other opposition groups have generally remained untouched, the CHP’s mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, is currently contesting a prison sentence and a political ban handed down by a court last December due to accusations of “insulting” election board officials in 2019.