Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu Arrested France And Germany Condemn Erdogan's Political Rival's Detention

Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Istanbul and a key challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was arrested on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, on charges of financial corruption. İmamoğlu had been expected to announce his candidacy for the 2028 presidential election on Sunday. This arrest comes as Turkey also imposed restrictions on social media access and banned gatherings until Sunday.

Turkish prosecutors issued arrest warrants for İmamoğlu and approximately 100 other individuals, including journalists and businessmen, accusing them of corruption related to municipal tenders. The authorities also accused İmamoğlu of supporting the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a banned Kurdish militant organization.

The Istanbul Governor's Office has announced a four-day ban on protests and gatherings, lasting until March 22. Furthermore, access to social media platforms, including X, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, has been restricted or blocked in several parts of Turkey.

Following İmamoğlu's arrest, the Turkish economy saw a significant downturn. The Turkish lira fell by 2%, hitting its lowest point against the US dollar, and the Istanbul Stock Exchange halted trading after a nearly 7% decline. This economic instability has added to the widespread public reaction and condemnation of the arrest.

Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have condemned İmamoğlu's arrest as an abuse of the judicial system, labeling it a politically motivated attack aimed at undermining opposition forces. The opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), which İmamoğlu is a member of, had planned to announce him as their presidential candidate for 2028.

In addition to this arrest, the Istanbul University revoked İmamoğlu's degree on March 18, citing administrative errors. This move added further challenges to his bid for the presidency, as it questioned his eligibility for the 2028 election.

Before his arrest, İmamoğlu posted a video on social media, announcing that hundreds of police officers were stationed outside his home to arrest him. He declared,“We face a great tyranny, but we will not surrender.”

İmamoğlu, who defeated Erdoğan's party after 20 years of control over Istanbul in the 2019 local elections, had become a significant political figure in Turkey. His victory was supported by a coalition of secularists, liberals, nationalists, and notably, Kurds, who make up a large part of Istanbul's population.

İmamoğlu's arrest highlights the growing political tensions in Turkey, as the ruling government intensifies efforts to suppress opposition voices. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, while the future of democracy in Turkey remains uncertain, especially with the upcoming presidential elections in 2028. His arrest is seen by many as a strategic move to eliminate a key rival in Turkish politics.

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