The mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure in Turkey, was arrested on Wednesday morning on corruption and terrorism charges, as confirmed by the city’s prosecutor’s office. A significant number of police officers arrived at Mr. Imamoglu’s house and took him away, with multiple aides also being detained. The prosecutor’s office stated that more than 100 people had arrest warrants issued against them.

Mr. Imamoglu is considered a potential candidate for the next presidential election in 2028, with the possibility of early elections. He and other opposition figures have accused President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government of attempting to exclude Mr. Imamoglu from running in the election, potentially against Mr. Erdogan himself.

In a video posted on social media before his arrest, Mr. Imamoglu accused the government of “usurping the will of the people.” He said, “We are facing great tyranny, but I want you to know that I will not be discouraged.” The story is still unfolding.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/world/middleeast/turkey-istanbul-mayor-arrest.html