Police arrest Istanbul mayor and key Erdogan rival over alleged corruption and terror links

The police in Türkiye Wednesday arrested the mayor of Istanbul – a Chief of the popular opposition and a key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – As part of investigations on alleged ties of corruption and terrorism. It was a spectacular escalation in a repression of the current government against the opposition and the dissident voices in Türkiye.

The Anadolu agency, directed by the State, said that the prosecutors had published detention mandates for the mayor, Immamogl ecremand a hundred other people. Among the detained people were the assistant close to Imamoglu, Murat Ongun.

The authorities also closed several roads around Istanbul and prohibited demonstrations in the city for four days in an apparent effort to prevent demonstrations after arrest.

Critics say that repression follows significant losses from the Erdogan ruling party in local elections last year in the midst of growing calls for the first national elections. Government representatives insist that the courts operate independently and reject the allegations according to which legal actions against opposition figures are politically motivated.

The arrest occurred during a search at the home of Imamoglu, but it was not immediately clear if the police confiscated something on the site.

The wife of the mayor, Dilek Imamoglu, told the private television channel now that the police arrived at their residence before dawn and that the mayor had been taken around 7:30 am (11:30 p.m. he).

Silence the opposition

One day earlier, a university in Istanbul invalidated the Imamoglu diploma, actually disqualifying the popular character of the race opposition in the next presidential race. Having a university degree is an requirement to run for the elections under Turkish law.

The party of the mayor – the main republican people party of the opposition, or CHP – was to hold a primary on Sunday where the Imamoglu was to be chosen for its candidate during the future presidential elections. Turkey’s next presidential vote is scheduled for 2028, but the first elections are likely.

With all arrests on Wednesday, it was unlikely that the vote will take place.

“We are faced with great tyranny, but I want you to know that I will not be discouraged,” said Imamoglu earlier in a video message published on social networks. He accused the government of “usurping the will” of the people.

In an article on social networks on English, Imamoglu said: “The will of the people cannot be silenced by acts of intimidation or illegal.

The president of the CHP, Ozgur Ozel, denounced the detention of Imamoglu as “coup d’etat”.

“Currently, there is a power in place to prevent the nation from determining the next president,” he said. “We are faced with an attempted coup against our next president.”

The equality and the party of democracy of the pro-Kurdish peoples of Turkey condemned the detentions and called for the immediate release of all detention.

“The dawn raid and the detention of the mayor of the largest city in the country for political motivations are a shame that will not be forgotten for centuries.

While he was arrested, Ongun, the help of Imamoglu, posted on X on his detention, although he did not seem at the time did not seem to know that the mayor was also placed in police custody.

“They think they can silence us and prevent us from defending and supporting Ekrem Imamoglu,” said UNGUN. “I dispute Ekrem Imamoglu to the Turkish nation. Protect, monitor and support it. They cannot overcome the nation. “

In addition, the police also owned an eminent investigative journalist, Ismail Saymaz, for interrogation, reported the Halk TV aligned as opposed.

Meanwhile, the Internet access group Netblocks.org reported on Wednesday that access had been limited in Türkiye to popular social media platforms.

By canceling the Imamoglu diploma, the University of Istanbul cited alleged irregularities in its 1990 transfer from a private university in the north of Cyprus to its business administration faculty. Imamoglu said he would dispute the decision.

Legal obstacles

The head of the opposition faces multiple proceedings, in particular allegations to try to influence a legal expert investigating in municipalities led by the opposition. Business could cause prison terms and a political ban.

Imamoglu also calls on a conviction in 2022 to insult the members of the Supreme Electoral Council of Türkiye, a case that could lead to a political ban.

He was elected mayor of the largest city in Turkey in March 2019 In a historic blow to Erdogan and at the Justice and Development Party of the President, who had checked Istanbul for a quarter of a century. The party prompted to cancel the results of the municipal elections in the city of 16 million, alleging irregularities.

The challenge led to a rehearsal of the elections a few months later, which Imamoglu also won. The mayor retained his headquarters after the local elections last year, during which his party made important gains against the Erdogan power party.