In Istanbul, massive crowds gathered outside the city hall for a second consecutive night to denounce the apprehension of the city’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. Many perceive this as a politically charged move by the government to sideline a significant contender of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the upcoming presidential elections. Imamoglu was detained following an early morning raid on his residence and faced accusations involving corruption and affiliations with terrorist organizations, amidst a broader sweep targeting opposition figures.
Imamoglu’s detention has stirred fears regarding democratic processes in Turkey, prompting protests throughout Istanbul and other cities despite roadblock measures and a four-day prohibition on demonstrations. The financial markets also reacted adversely, leading to brief suspensions in trading on Wednesday to curb panic-induced selloffs.
Ozgur Ozel, head of Imamoglu’s Republican People’s Party (CHP), addressed the rally, urging peaceful protests to defend their rights. Mansur Yavas, another prominent opposition leader and the mayor of Ankara, emphasized the need for unity among opposition groups to tackle perceived injustices. Efforts by protestors to march towards Istanbul’s central Taksim Square were thwarted by police using pepper spray, while similar scenes unfolded in Ankara with law enforcement deploying tear gas and water cannons at a university protest. Skirmishes in Istanbul also left six police officers injured, according to the Interior Ministry.
The Turkish government, particularly Erdogan’s party, dismissed accusations of political interference. They maintain that the judiciary operates independently and the legal actions are devoid of political bias. Omer Celik, a spokesperson for Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party, argued against allegations of the crackdown being orchestrated by the government and called for adherence to legal proceedings.
President Erdogan publicly criticized the opposition for not addressing corruption allegations substantively, accusing them of amplifying political rhetoric instead. Concurrently, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported the detention of individuals for disseminating incendiary social media rumors concerning the mayor’s detention. Authorities identified 261 accounts spreading content deemed to instigate public hatred and detained several suspects.
Imamoglu’s arrest precedes the CHP’s presidential primary in which he was likely to be nominated as the presidential candidate. Despite setbacks, the party’s leadership assured the primary’s continuation. The situation has also drawn international scrutiny, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemning the arrest as detrimental to Turkey’s democratic standing and its relations with the European Union.
Within Turkey, prosecutors have leveled serious accusations against Imamoglu, alleging misuse of his mayoral position for financial benefit and other improper activities. A separate probe ties Imamoglu to aiding the PKK, escalating concerns about his potential removal from office if charges are formalized.
Before this incident, Imamoglu faced a slew of other legal challenges, including a pending appeal against a conviction for insulting Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council which could disqualify him politically. His academic credentials were recently questioned, potentially disqualifying him from running for the presidency.
Imamoglu’s 2019 election victory marked a significant defeat for the ruling party, as Erdogan’s party had dominated Istanbul for decades before his ascendance. Despite efforts to annul his mayoral victory due to alleged electoral irregularities, Imamoglu won a rerun election held soon after, cementing his position as a formidable figure in Turkish politics, challenging Erdogan’s long-standing hold.
