Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has been detained on corruption and terror charges, leading to protests. Turkiye, in response, has detained 37 individuals accused of sharing provocative social media posts related to Imamoglu’s detention. The mayor, who is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main political rival, denies the allegations of corruption and aiding a terrorist group. The detention of Imamoglu and several prominent figures such as journalists, businesspeople, and city staff has resulted in protests despite a four-day ban on gatherings. The government has restricted and taken measures to suppress the protests, including sealing off roads and limiting access to social media. A construction company co-owned by Imamoglu has also been seized by authorities. Erdogan’s ruling party, the Justice and Development Party, views Imamoglu’s Republican People’s Party as the main political threat. Critics of the government believe the detention is an effort to maintain Erdogan’s grip on power following significant losses in local elections last year. The government denies accusations that the crackdown is politically motivated, claiming that the courts operate independently. The European Union has expressed concerns over the situation.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/20/turkiye-detains-37-people-over-social-media-posts-about-istanbul-mayor?traffic_source=rss