For the second night in a row, thousands of people gathered outside Istanbul’s city hall to protest against the arrest of Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Many see his detention as a political move to remove a strong opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan before the next presidential election.
Authorities took İmamoğlu into custody early Wednesday morning. Police raided his home before dawn. Prosecutors accuse him of corruption and links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Officials claim he misused his power for personal gain and gave government contracts unfairly.
The government also alleges that İmamoğlu worked with Kurdish groups during the Istanbul mayoral election. The PKK, active in an insurgency for decades, is considered a terrorist group by Turkey, the EU, the US, and other allies.
Crackdown on Social Media and Protests
Security forces detained dozens of people for sharing posts about İmamoğlu’s arrest. The government claims these posts were “provocative” and aimed at causing unrest. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said officials identified 261 accounts linked to the content. So far, at least 37 people have been arrested.
Under Turkish law, authorities can keep İmamoğlu in custody for up to four days without charges. If he is formally charged, he may lose his position as mayor. A government-appointed trustee could replace him.
Despite a four-day ban on demonstrations, protests erupted in Istanbul and other cities. Many people defied police orders and took to the streets. The unrest also affected financial markets. Trading was briefly stopped on Wednesday to prevent panic-driven selling.
Opposition Condemns the Arrest
İmamoğlu’s arrest came just days before the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) planned to name him as its candidate for president. Party leaders say they will continue with their plans despite his detention.
This is not İmamoğlu’s first legal challenge. In 2022, a court convicted him for insulting Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council. This week, a university revoked his diploma, citing irregularities in his 1990 transfer from a private Cypriot university. Under Turkish law, presidential candidates must be university graduates. The decision effectively blocks him from running for president.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) denies any political influence over İmamoğlu’s case. Party spokesperson Omer Celik said there was no interference and urged the public to trust the legal system.
İmamoğlu’s win in the 2019 Istanbul mayoral election was a major defeat for Erdoğan. His party had ruled the city for 25 years. After losing, Erdoğan’s party challenged the election results. A new vote was ordered. İmamoğlu won again by an even bigger margin.
Growing Political Tensions
The arrest of a popular opposition leader has raised concerns about democracy in Turkey. Critics argue that Erdoğan is using the judicial system to remove opponents before the election. Human rights groups have also condemned the crackdown on protests and social media users.
As tensions rise, many are watching closely to see what happens next. Will İmamoğlu face formal charges? Will he be allowed to run for president? For now, the streets of Istanbul remain filled with protesters demanding justice.
