Prosecutors allege that Ekrem İmamoğlu has abused his authority for personal financial gain, including the improper distribution of government contracts.
For the second night in a row, thousands have congregated outside Istanbul’s city hall to protest the arrest of the city’s mayor, whom many believe is being targeted politically to remove a significant competitor from the upcoming presidential election.
Ekrem İmamoğlu, a leading adversary of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was taken into custody following a pre-dawn raid at his home on Wednesday, amid an investigation into supposed corruption and alleged ties to terrorism.
Additionally, prosecutors claim he has aided the designated terrorist group, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), by reportedly forming alliances with Kurdish organizations during the municipal elections in Istanbul. The PKK has been involved in an insurgency within Turkey for decades and is classified as a terrorist group by Ankara, the EU, the US, and other allies.
The timeline for when authorities will begin questioning İmamoğlu remains uncertain, but he can be held without charges for up to four days. Observers suggest that if formally charged with PKK connections, İmamoğlu may face removal from office, potentially being replaced by a ‘trustee mayor.’
The mayor’s detention has heightened concerns regarding democratic principles, inciting protests in Istanbul and across Turkey, despite a four-day ban on demonstrations within the city and certain road closures. Furthermore, his arrest has created turmoil in the financial markets, leading to temporary trading suspensions on Wednesday to curb panic selling.
AK Parti Denies Accusations of Interference
Critics view the crackdown on İmamoğlu as a strategy by Erdoğan to prolong his more than 20-year regime, particularly following notable losses by the ruling party in the previous year’s local elections. Government representatives refute claims that the legal actions taken against opposition figures are politically motivated, asserting that the judiciary functions independently.
Omer Celik, spokesperson for Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti), rejected allegations from the opposition that these detentions were orchestrated by the government, urging for respect for the legal process. He emphasized, “What a politician should do is to follow the judicial process,” adding that no one, including his party members, possesses information about the specifics of the criminal case involved.
Earlier on Thursday, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that numerous individuals were arrested for spreading “provocative” content on social media related to İmamoğlu’s detention. Authorities identified 261 social media accounts sharing posts deemed to incite public animosity or criminal behavior, including 62 tied to individuals located outside Turkey. So far, at least 37 of these individuals have been detained, with efforts to apprehend others still underway.
İmamoğlu’s arrest came just days before he was anticipated to be nominated as the CHP presidential candidate in a primary scheduled for Sunday, although the party’s leader has maintained that the primary will proceed as planned.
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İmamoğlu’s Legal Challenges
Prior to his arrest, İmamoğlu already confronted several criminal cases that could lead to prison sentences and a potential political ban. He is currently appealing a 2022 conviction for insulting members of Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council, which might also result in a political ban. Additionally, this week a university invalidated his diploma due to alleged discrepancies in his 1990 transfer from a private institution in northern Cyprus, a decision İmamoğlu has expressed intentions to contest.
This diploma invalidation would effectively disqualify him from running for president, as candidates are required to hold a university degree. İmamoğlu was elected as mayor of Turkey’s most populous city in March 2019, marking a significant defeat for Erdoğan and the AK Parti, who had maintained control over Istanbul for 25 years. The ruling party sought to annul the election results, citing irregularities, leading to a repeat election a few months later, which İmamoğlu also won.
