Erdem Sahin / EPA
Supporters shout slogans and hold a track with the image of the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, despite the prohibitions
Turkey police detained, at dawn on Wednesday, the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, as part of a judicial investigation for alleged corruption and “collaboration with terrorist groups”.
Istanbul woke up this morning about a huge Police Detachmentwhich surrounded the house of Ekrem Imamoglu to arrest you.
Beyond the mayor, which is the main opponent of the current Turkish regimeabout 100 collaborators and municipal employees of the Republican Popular Party (CHP, on the acronym in Turkish) of Imamoglu were arrested.
“Hundreds of police arrived at my door. … The police broke into my house and knocked my door,” imamoglu announced on social network. “We are facing huge tyranny, but I want you to know that I will not be discouraged,” he said.
“The will of the people is suffering a blow”read in the description.
The nation’s will is hit.
– Ekrem İmamoğlu (@ekrem_imamoglu)
One of the mayor’s employees told France-Presse news agency that Imamoglu was arrested and taken to the police squad.
But why?
According to a press release from the Public Prosecution Service in Istanbul, Imamoglu is accused of being “ahead of a criminal organization for profit ”as part of a corruption investigation.
The statement also mentions accusations of “PKK Support”the Kurdistan Workers Party, which is considered as a Terrorist group by Türkiye.
Protesting is prohibited, but…
However, the Turkish authorities ended several roads around Istanbul and prohibited demonstrations in the city for four days in apparent effort to avoid protests after the mayor arrest.
Nevertheless, people contradicted the orders and They left the street in force – Especially the students, in front of the University of Istanbul.
Students gathered to support Ekrem İmamoğlu at Istanbul University and destroyed the police barricade and reached Beyazıt Square
– Kayhan Ayhan (@kayhanayhann)
In the walk at Istanbul University, the student flood over the police barricade!
– Birgün Newspaper (@birgun_gazetesi)
Imamoglu was first elected in 2019, ending a quarter of the century of Islamis dominance in Türkiye’s largest city.
The social democrat was reelected in March 2024.
Erdogan’s great rival
Recently, IMAMOGLU has been pointed out as the most likely rival of the head of state of Türkiye, the Islamite Recep Tayyip Erdoganin the next presidential elections. But it’s not having easy life.
This Tuesday, the University of Istanbula public higher education institution, annulled the diplomas of 28 people, including imamoglubased on the conclusions of an internal investigation committee on alleged “falsification of official documents”.
The decision adds one more additional obstacle to the possible application from imamoglu to the Turkish presidency. This is because, according to the Turkish Constitution, candidates for the presidency of the country must have a higher education diploma.
Precisely in front of the university, students continue the protests since early morning.
Students exceeding the police barricade at Istanbul University continue to take action with the slogans “Tayyip Resign” in front of the main door.
– Newspaper Journey (@gazeteyolculuk)
Istanbul University students walk to Saraçhane.
– Effective News (@etkilihaber)
“Tentative suddenly”
In addition, the detention happened days before the CHP performs the primaries On Sunday, where Imamoglu should be chosen as a candidate for future presidential elections, scheduled for 2028.
The president of CHP, Ozgur ozeldenounced the detention of imamoglu as “a attempted coup against the next president“.
