Istanbul mayor and Erdogan rival arrested in major crackdown

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

Turkish authorities have detained the mayor of Istanbul, just days before he was due to be selected as a presidential candidate.

Ekrem Imamoglu, from the secular Republican People's Party (CHP), is seen as one of Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan's strongest political rivals.

Prosecutors accused him of corruption and aiding a terrorist group, calling him a "criminal organisation leader suspect".

Authorities detained 100 suspects - including other politicians, journalists and businessmen - as part of the investigation, and the Istanbul governor's office has imposed four days of restrictions in the city.

Read more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yren8mxp8o

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The state-run Anadolu Agency reported that prosecutors also issued warrants for 100 other people. Authorities closed several roads around Istanbul and banned demonstrations in the city for four days in an apparent effort to prevent protests following the arrest.
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Imamoğlu, 53, “was detained and is now at police headquarters” a press aide told Agence France-Presse. The aide did not have permission to speak to the media so asked not to be named.

At the same time, Netblocks internet observatory said Turkey had restricted access to multiple social media platforms including X, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is scheduled to hold a primary election on 23 March, at which Imamoğlu was expected to be chosen as its presidential candidate. The next presidential vote is scheduled for 2028, but early elections are likely.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/19/istanbul-mayor-arrested-ekrem-imamoglu-days-before-likely-presidential-nomination-erdogan-ntwnfb

Democracy will be a thing of the past in Turkey.