Turkish police have arrested the mayor of Istanbul, detaining the primary challenger to the president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in dawn raids that also ensnared 100 politicians, businesspeople and municipal officials accused of corruption and links to terror groups.
Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor, released a video statement as police gathered outside his residence in Istanbul, speaking to the camera as he put on a shirt and tie before his arrest. In a caption accompanying the video posted to social media, he wrote: “This is a blow to the will of the people.”
Hundreds of police officers have arrived at my door. I entrust myself to the people. The police are raiding my home, knocking on my door,” he said.
“I stand resolute, entrusting myself not only to the 16 million residents of Istanbul but to the 86 million citizens of Türkiye, and all who uphold democracy and justice worldwide,” he later added. “I stand firm in my fight for fundamental rights and freedoms.”
The Istanbul mayor was detained along with about 100 others, including his chief spokesperson, Murat Ongun, the head of the İmamoğlu construction firm, Tuncay Yılmaz, and the head of the Istanbul municipality sports club, Fatih Keleş, all accused of corruption, embezzlement and bribery.
The Istanbul public prosecutor’s office added that İmamoğlu was charged as “the leader of a criminal organisation” accused of extortion, fraud and corruption.
Prosecutors also accused İmamoğlu and at least six others including local officials of “aiding a terrorist organisation” in reference to the Kurdistan Workers party (PKK) armed group. The Istanbul prosecutor accused them of collaborating with a leftwing political coalition in the run-up to local elections after losses for Erdoğan’s party last year, thereby allegedly aiding the PKK. The jailed leader of the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, announced late last month that the group would disarm and dissolve.
Long seen as the only candidate capable of presenting a serious challenge to Erdoğan’s 22 years in power, İmamoğlu had been taking part in primaries for the Republican People’s party (CHP) to choose the opposition’s candidate for the next presidential election. He was widely tipped to be declared as the opposition’s candidate in a vote expected this weekend.
The next presidential vote is scheduled for 2028, although observers anticipate early elections.
İmamoğlu had previously faced a political ban after an Istanbul court convicted him of insulting election officials in 2022, charges that he appealed.
The night before hundreds of police arrived at his residence to arrest him, Istanbul University declared that it had annulled his diploma – effectively barring him from running for the presidency, as a university degree is a pre-requisite. İmamoğlu denounced the decision as “legally baseless”.
Turkish police were out in force across Istanbul on Wednesday amid a four-day ban on public protests and meetings following İmamoğlu’s arrest, with main thoroughfares closed and some metro stations shuttered. A boulevard around the police station where İmamoğlu was taken into custody was locked down.
Despite the restrictions, thousands of students gathered to protest on the campus of Istanbul University before some clashed with riot police. Crowds of students then marched towards the mayoral headquarters, while a major union called on its members to take to the streets near the police station where the mayor was detained.
Internet access across Turkey was limited, while the internet freedom organisation Netblocks noted restricted access to social media platforms including X, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok after the mayor’s detention.
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