Turkish authorities arrested Ekrem Imamoğlu, the Istanbul mayor and leading opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, amid claims of corruption and terrorist ties, according to state media. This development is part of a broader investigation that has prompted the issuance of arrest warrants for over a hundred other individuals. The government closed various roads in Istanbul and banned public gatherings for four days, purportedly to prevent any subsequent protests.
Imamoğlu responded to his arrest with a video message, labeling it an assault on the will of the nation, accusing the government of undermining the democratic process. He vowed not to be deterred by such actions, indicating his intention to persist in his political efforts.
The Republican People’s Party (CHP) is set to choose its presidential candidate on 23 March, with hopes that Imamoğlu would secure the nomination. The next presidential elections are slated for 2028; however, there’s speculation that they might occur earlier.
Özgür Özel, the CHP chairman, condemned Imamoğlu’s arrest as an attempted coup against their right to choose the next president. He believes that the current powers are working to obstruct the nation’s ability to select its next leader.
On Tuesday, there was a search of Imamoğlu’s home, following a decision by Istanbul University to invalidate his diploma, thereby disqualifying him from running for president in future elections. Turkish law requires a university degree for eligibility. Imamoğlu denounced the decision as politically motivated and stated his intent to appeal it.
In reaction to the invalidation of his diploma, Imamoğlu accused the government of interfering with the judiciary and expressed concerns about the independence of the judiciary system. He also stated that he would continue his fight for justice and democracy.
Imamoğlu’s arrest and the annulment of his degree have been viewed by many as a move by Erdoğan to suppress dissent and control political opposition. The international community and observers have criticized the actions as overtly political and undermining the democratic principles in Turkey.
The situation reflects a wider pattern of legal challenges and political reprisals faced by Imamoğlu, who was elected mayor of Istanbul in a significant victory for the opposition in 2019, denying Erdoğan and his party the control they had exercised over the city for over two decades.
Legal analysts see the latest events as indicative of Erdoğan’s unwillingness to risk a fair electoral contest, suggesting a strategy to manipulate the political field and eliminate formidable adversaries. Imamoğlu’s determination to challenge his conviction and the illegality of his diploma revocation underscores the deepening political crisis in Turkey ahead of upcoming critical elections.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/19/istanbul-mayor-arrested-ekrem-imamoglu-days-before-likely-presidential-nomination-erdogan-ntwnfb
