You are not savas/EPA
People participate in a protest against the detention of the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, in front of the Popular Republican Party (CHP) headquarters in Ankara, Türkiye.
Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested Wednesday for alleged collaboration with terrorists and corruption. Manifestations prohibited in the coming days and diplomas taken to prevent applications. “Tyranny,” says Imamoglu.
Turkey police held the mayor of Istanbul on Wednesday, Ecrem immamoglin the context of a judicial investigation for alleged corruption and “collaboration with terrorist groups”in reference to the Kurdish guerrillas, and the Turkish people soon went to the streets to denounce a “blow against the future president” of the country.
Imamoglu, 54, is seen in the country as President Tayyip’s main rival Erdogan in the 2028 presidential election and already hits Erdogan in some polls. It was days to be announced as an official candidate for the People’s Republican Party (CHP) who holds the primaries this Sunday, according to the agency.
A major police detachment surrounded the house of Imamoglu early in the morning and detained the mayor, as well as several employees and municipal employees of the same party, the Republican Popular Party (CHP, in the acronym in Turco). State News Agency Anadolu said the prosecutor issued detention warrants to imamoglu and around 100 people.
The authorities ended several roads around Istanbul early in the morning and prohibited demonstrations in the city for four days In an apparent effort to avoid protests after the mayor detention.
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“Hundreds of police arrived at my door. (…) The police broke into my house and knocked my door ”announced imamoglu on the social network X.
“We are facing a huge tyrannyBut I want you to know that I will not be discouraged, ”said Imamoglu, who accused the government of“ usurpting the will ”of the people.
According to a press release at the Public Prosecution Service in Istanbul, Imamoglu is accused of being “ahead of a for -profit criminal organization” as part of an investigation on corruption. The statement, quoted by the local press, also mentions accusations of “PKK Support“The Kurdistan Workers Party, considered as a terrorist group for Türkiye.
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, having since been pointed out as the most likely rival From Turkey’s head of state, Islamite Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the next presidential presidential. It is recalled that Erdogan, former prime minister, has already complied with his limit of two terms as president.
Attack on diplomas to prevent applications
The University of Istanbul, a public higher education institution, annulled the diplomas of 28 people on Tuesday, including imamoglubased on the conclusions of an internal investigation committee on alleged “falsification of official documents”.
The decision adds another additional obstacle to the possible candidacy of imamoglu to the Turkish presidency. According to the Turkish Constitution, candidates for the presidency of the country must have a higher education diploma.
CHP President Ozgur Ozel denounced imamoglu’s arrest as “an attempted coup against (…) next president.”
