Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has defended himself against “terrorism” charges during his hearing, according to court documents reviewed by Reuters. Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure and potential 2028 presidential candidate, stated that he and his colleagues were facing absurd accusations and slanders during his interrogation on Saturday.
Later in the day, Imamoglu arrived at Caglayan courthouse for questioning by prosecutors, with a judge set to decide whether to jail or release him on Sunday. His detention, which occurred on Wednesday, came just before the Republican People’s Party (CHP) intended to announce him as their 2028 presidential candidate. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the CHP leadership of turning the party into a mechanism to exonerate corrupt municipal officials and disrupt public peace.
Imamoglu’s arrest has incited widespread protests across more than two-thirds of Turkiye’s 81 provinces, including regions supportive of Erdogan. The justice minister dismissed any connection between the detentions and the government, labeling claims to the contrary as “presumptuous and inappropriate.” Erdogan’s communications directorate vowed to combat what they described as an “irrational smear campaign.”
Despite limitations on protests and a strong police presence, significant crowds have taken to the streets in a fourth consecutive night of demonstrations. Journalist and author Kemal Can commented on feeling trapped in Turkiye on economic, social, political, and cultural levels, yet acknowledged Erdogan’s continued support in certain parts of the country due to the country’s history and polarized environment. Ilhan Uzgel from the CHP emphasized that the issue goes beyond party politics, questioning whether Turkiye will be an authoritarian regime or a democratic nation.
The CHP has called on all Turks to join their symbolic primary vote on Sunday, where Imamoglu is to be named the party’s presidential candidate, aiming to emphasize the nonpartisan nature of the protest movement. Imamoglu praised the demonstrations as a defense of democracy worldwide.
Turkish police have been cracking down on protesters, with 343 individuals arrested so far, including 94 people detained over social media posts deemed “provocative” and intended to incite “panic.” The investigation against Imamoglu is part of a wider probe involving 106 suspects on corruption and “terror” allegations.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/22/detained-istanbul-mayor-imamoglu-denies-terrorism-charges-report?traffic_source=rss
