ISTANBUL — In a significant escalation of the Turkish government’s crackdown on opposition figures, Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, has been detained by police alongside several other prominent individuals on charges related to alleged corruption and connections to terrorism. The crackdown appears to be part of a broader effort to stifle dissent and political opposition within Turkey. The state-run Anadolu news agency reported that detention warrants had been issued for Imamoglu and around 100 other individuals, including Murat Ongun, a close aide to Imamoglu.
In a series of dramatic developments, authorities have shut down major roads in Istanbul and imposed a four-day ban on demonstrations, ostensibly to prevent public unrest following these arrests. Reports from NTV, a private television network, indicated that two district mayors from Istanbul were also among those detained. The crackdown follows last year’s local election losses by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party and coincides with increasing pressure for early national elections. However, government officials argue that the actions are judicially independent and not politically motivated.
Earlier, Imamoglu, who has been seen as a formidable opponent to Erdogan, voiced his defiance online stating, “We are facing great tyranny, but I want you to know that I will not be discouraged.” Imamoglu, who was detained during a police search of his home, was reportedly taken away around 7:30 a.m., according to his wife, Dilek Imamoglu. The stock market reacted sharply, with Istanbul’s main index falling by 7%, prompting a temporary halt in trading, while the Turkish lira’s value plummeted against the dollar.
Prosecutors allege that Imamoglu was involved in extortion, money laundering, and irregular procurement practices. Additionally, there’s speculation that he might have aided the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) during municipal elections by allegedly aligning with a Kurdish group, accusations that link back to ongoing conflict labels by Ankara and its allies as terrorism.
Tensions escalated further when Istanbul University invalidated Imamoglu’s degree, effectively preventing him from standing in any presidential election due to regulations that require a higher education qualification. This move is seen as a blow to his political prospects, with Imamoglu set to be a key contender for the presidency within the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). Despite this, party chairman Ozgur Ozel confirmed that the leadership election would proceed as planned. He characterized Imamoglu’s arrest as “an attempted coup against our next president.”
Statements of support have poured in, with the pro-Kurdish political parties denouncing the arrests and calling for immediate releases. Criticism has mounted following the dramatic pre-dawn raid, described by some as an attempt to reshape politics through the judiciary, further evidenced by public outcry from political figures and human rights organizations.
Earlier, there were attempts to question prominent figures like investigative journalist Ismail Saymaz, aligning with patterns of targeting opposition voices. Additionally, access to social media platforms was reportedly restricted, raising alarms about censorship and control over information dissemination.
In the backdrop of these events, Imamoglu is contesting the university’s decision regarding his degree and several legal cases against him, including accusations of trying to influence a judicial investigation. A previous conviction for insulting the Supreme Electoral Council is also under appeal, which, if upheld, could block his political activities.
Elected as mayor in 2019, Imamoglu represented a significant challenge to Erdogan’s party, capturing Istanbul in a historical electoral victory that was only confirmed after a contested rerun. Meanwhile, figures aligned with Erdogan, like Devlet Bahceli of the Nationalist Movement Party, have denounced challenges to judicial decisions, implying that adherence to legal decrees is vital to maintaining order.
