Ekrem Imamoglu, the prominent mayor of Istanbul, has been detained by Turkish police as part of an investigation into alleged corruption and terror links. Imamoglu is widely regarded as a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and his arrest has intensified an already heated political atmosphere. The mayor has been leading President Erdogan in some opinion polls, adding significance to this development.
The Incident
Police detained Imamoglu during a search of his home. His wife, Dilek Imamoglu, told the Now television station that police arrived before dawn and the mayor was taken at around 7:30am, calling it an “unlawful procedure” which was “very, very scary.” Prosecutors also issued warrants for the detention of around 100 other people including Mr Imamoglu’s close aide, Murat Ongun, according to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency.
Political Implications
Imamoglu’s detention has drawn widespread attention due to his position as a formidable challenger to Erdogan. The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is set to hold a primary election on Sunday, when it was expected that Imamoglu would be chosen as its candidate in future presidential elections. The CHP has called the detention “a coup against our next president.” A day before his detention, Istanbul University invalidated Imamoglu’s diploma, which if upheld would rule him out of running in the next presidential race.
Public Reaction
Demonstrations have been banned for four days in Istanbul and several roads closed in what appears to be an attempt by the authorities to prevent protests about the mayor’s detention. Turkey has also restricted access to social media platforms including X, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Despite these measures, supporters of Imamoglu started to gather outside the police headquarters in Istanbul. Human Rights Watch Turkey condemned the detentions and called it a “flagrant abuse of the justice system.”
This development marks a dramatic escalation in an ongoing government crackdown on the opposition in Turkey, coming after significant losses by Erdogan’s ruling party in local elections last year amid growing calls for early national elections. While government officials insist the judiciary operates independently, critics view these actions as politically motivated attempts to suppress opposition voices.