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Turkish police have detained Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul and the primary political rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, amidst an intensified government crackdown on opposition figures. According to the state-run Anadolu news agency, İmamoğlu’s detention on Wednesday is part of an investigation into alleged terrorism links, related to potential support from a pro-Kurdish political group for his 2024 mayoral re-election campaign.
The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) planned to announce İmamoğlu, a prominent political figure in the country, as its presidential candidate in a primary scheduled for Sunday. Although elections are set for 2028, the party has argued that naming its candidate now should pressure parliament into calling a snap election.
CHP chair Özgur Özel criticized the detention, characterizing it as “an attempted coup against our next president.” Following İmamoğlu’s detention, the Turkish lira declined by up to 10 percent against the dollar, and the Bist 100 index saw a drop of nearly 7 percent in early trading hours.
President Erdoğan, who has been a dominant figure in Turkish politics for over 20 years, has led the country toward increased authoritarianism, especially in the aftermath of the 2016 coup attempt. In recent weeks, his administration has executed a crackdown targeting politicians from both the left and right, along with journalists, academics, and even an astrologer who made election predictions.
İmamoğlu, one of the most prominent figures in this crackdown, is facing numerous investigations, primarily related to his political speeches. In a voice message shared by his office, İmamoğlu stated, “Hundreds of police are at my door,” and described the situation as an “immoral and tyrannical approach” that would be overturned by the public’s will and resilience.
Dilek İmamoğlu, the mayor’s wife, explained to a television station that police arrived at their home during the pre-dawn meal of sahur, during Ramadan, and that her husband was taken away around 7:30 a.m. He is reportedly being held at the central Istanbul police station. İmamoğlu’s detention coincides with the issuance of arrest warrants for an additional 99 individuals, as reported by Anadolu. Furthermore, Istanbul’s governor, appointed by Erdoğan, has imposed a four-day ban on demonstrations throughout the city.
Authorities have also limited access to social media platforms, including X, Instagram, and YouTube, as reported by global internet monitor NetBlocks. İmamoğlu’s detention occurred a day after Istanbul University, a state institution, canceled his higher education degree, which could disqualify him from participating in the presidential race unless the decision is overturned on appeal.
İmamoğlu was re-elected last year with a margin exceeding 11 percentage points after voters expressed dissatisfaction with Erdoğan’s ruling party, which has been in power since 2002, due to its handling of a prolonged cost of living crisis.
