In Istanbul, a massive rally unfolded as countless opposition supporters convened outside the city’s municipal building on Sunday night to express their discontent over the arrest of the city’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. A formidable adversary to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Imamoglu was formally charged by a court earlier the same day, facing accusations of corruption, and consequently ordered into detention to await trial. His arrest on Wednesday morning ignited the largest series of public protests in Turkey for over a decade, with nightly demonstrations outside city hall escalating concerns over the state of democracy and the rule of law in the country.
This political controversy is widely perceived as a strategic maneuver to eliminate a significant contender from the forthcoming presidential contest set for 2028. Meanwhile, government representatives refute these allegations, asserting the independence of Turkish courts. Addressing the protesting masses, Ozgur Ozel, leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) to which Imamoglu belongs, credited the crowd’s persistence for preventing the government from overtaking the municipal leadership. Ozel emphasized that without their determination, city hall might have come under direct control of President Erdogan’s administration.
The prosecutor’s office indicted Imamoglu on allegations involving criminal organization activities, bribery, extortion, illegal data acquisition, and manipulation of bids. While a request to prosecute him on terror-related charges was dismissed, Imamoglu remains under scrutiny. Post-indictment, he was relocated to the Silivri prison on the outskirts of Istanbul. The Interior Ministry subsequently suspended Imamoglu as a provisional action, appointing a temporary mayor from within the government’s ranks.
In conjunction with Imamoglu, legal actions were also taken against 47 individuals, including notable aides and district mayors in Istanbul, with one notably substituted by a government affiliate. Meanwhile, protests across Turkish cities, while predominantly peaceful and showcasing overwhelming support for Imamoglu, saw some instances of unrest. Police responded with force, dispersing crowds with water cannons, tear gas, and plastic pellets, while demonstrators in certain areas retaliated with stones and fireworks against riot police.
Coinciding with these developments, the opposition CHP commenced a primary to endorse Imamoglu as their candidate, involving more than 1.7 million party members. Additionally, ‘solidarity ballots’ were provided for the public to express their support for Imamoglu. Participants like Fusun Erben, 69, from Istanbul, declared this situation a broader issue concerning Turkish democracy, vowing to uphold citizens’ rights. In Bodrum, Mehmet Dayanc, 38, expressed concerns over Turkey potentially evolving into a single-party state akin to Russia.
As evening protests continued on Sunday, preliminary vote counts indicated participation from over 15 million people, including more than 13 million solidarity ballots cast by non-party members. From within Silivri Prison, Imamoglu acknowledged the solidarity effort and urged the nation to deliver a decisive message to the current administration. Ankara’s mayor, Mansur Yavas, expressing dissatisfaction with the judicial process, echoed widespread criticisms aimed at Turkey’s legal system.
International entities voiced their discontent as well; the Council of Europe urged Imamoglu’s immediate and unconditional release, while Germany described the arrest as detrimental to Turkish democracy, calling for fair political competition devoid of judicial interference. Political analysts like Soner Cagaptay indicated the president’s resolve to undercut Imamoglu’s political career.
Prior to his detention, Imamoglu was already embroiled in numerous legal battles which could culminate in increased restrictions and potential political banishment. These included appealing past convictions and contesting a disputed academic degree annulment introduced earlier in the week, which threatened his eligibility for future presidential candidacy. Imamoglu, celebrated for defeating Erdogan’s party in the 2019 mayoral elections, has continually posed a substantial challenge to the ruling administration, demonstrating the formidable opposition capability within Turkey’s political landscape.
