Police in Türkiye arrested Istanbul Mayor Ikrim Imamoglu, a major competitor to President Erdogan

Istanbul – On Wednesday, Turkish police arrested the mayor of Istanbul – a popular opposition leader and the main competition of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – and many other prominent figures as part of investigations into alleged corruption and terrorism. It was a major escalation in an ongoing campaign against the opposition and the opposition turkey.

The state -run -off news agency said that the prosecutors issued detention orders to the mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, and about 100 other people. Among the detainees was the near Imam, Murat Oungun.

The authorities also closed several ways about Istanbul and banned demonstrations in the city for four days in a clear effort to prevent protests after arrest.

Despite the ban, live feeding on Anka News account x It seems that the demonstrators are clarifying with the riot police at Istanbul University. I read one sign: “The university will not comply.” No violence was immediately reported from the demonstrations.

The NTV private television network said that two Istanbul province heads were among the detainees.

Critics note that the campaign follows great losses by the ruling Erdogan party in the local elections last year, and amid increasing calls for early national elections. Government officials insist that the courts are working independently and rejects allegations that legal measures against opposition figures have political motives.

“We are facing great tyranny, but I want you to know that I will not feel frustrated,” said Imamoglu earlier in the day in a video posted on social media.

Germany criticized the arrests on Wednesday, as Foreign Ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer described it as a “dangerous setback for democracy.”

Internet monitoring NetBlocks On Wednesday, its living standards indicate that Türkiye restricts access to X, YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok and other social media platforms.

Erdogan, a populist with what the opponents say, has increased authoritarian tendencies, and led Turkey as prime minister or prime minister for more than 20 years and is now the longest leader in the history of the Turkish Republic. His current term will continue until 2028, but he indicated that he wanted to serve for a longer period – something he could achieve with the help of a friendly parliament.

Imamoglu was arrested when the police searched his house, but it was not immediately clear whether anything had been released. His wife, Delk Imamoglu, told now that the police have arrived at her residence before dawn and that the mayor was taken at about 7:30 am

The Istanbul Stock Exchange index decreased by 7 % due to the news of its detention, which led to a temporary stopping to trading to prevent panic and achieve stability in the market. Turkish pounds lost about 7 % of its value against the dollar.

Anadolu, News Agency, said that Ekrem Imamoglu and several others are suspected of blackmailing, laundering money and violations related to tenders and purchases, among other crimes.

The report said that Imamoglu is also suspected of helping it in the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, or the PKK, claiming that an alliance with a Kurdish umbrella organization for municipal elections in Istanbul. The Kurdistan Workers Party launched a decades -old rebellion inside Türkiye and its own terrorist organization by Ankara, Washington and other allies.

Earlier this month, in a move praised by the United States, PKK announced one -sided shooting With the government of Türkiye, after an invitation from the group’s leader for a long time in order to completely put the weapon.

“A coup attempt against our next president”

One day, Istanbul University invalidated the Imamuglu diploma, which actually excluded it from running in the next presidential race – a university degree necessary to run in the elections under Turkish law.

The Demon’s Party – the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP – was to hold the preliminary elections on Sunday as IMamoglu was widely expected to be chosen as a candidate in the future presidential elections. The 2028 national voting is scheduled, but voting is expected.

Despite all the arrests on Wednesday, the CHP Ozgur Ozel party, the opposition’s Halik TV channel, told the opposition that the introductory elections would light up as planned. Ozil described the arrest of IMamoglu, “an attempt to turn against our next president.”

in Social media yet He wrote in English, IMamoglu said: “People’s will cannot be silenced through intimidation or illegal actions. I stand firm, a psychological era not only to 16 million Istanbul residents but to 86 million citizens.”

The Equality and Democracy Party in Turkey in Türkiye condemned this frustration and called for the immediate release of all detainees.

The dawn raid on IMamoglu’s house and his arrest was “a stigma that will not be forgotten for centuries. This process, which has shattered the belief in justice, is an attempt to redesign the policy through the judiciary,” Toulay Hatimoglary, the party’s co -chair, Books on x.

When he was arrested, Ongun, Assistant mayor, He appealed to support on xAlthough at the time he did not know that the mayor was also detained.

“They believe they can silence us, prevent us from defense and support Ekrem Imamoglu,” Ongon said. “I am the era of Ekrem Imamoglu to the Turkish nation. Protection, monitoring and supporting it. They cannot defeat the nation.”

The police also detained a prominent prominent journalist, Ismail Saimaz, to interrogate them, according to the opposition alignment, Hulk TV.

In the abolition of IMamoglu Diploma, the university cited the alleged violations in its transfer in 1990 from a private university in northern Cyprus to the College of Business Administration. Imamoglu said he would challenge the decision.

IMamoglu faces multiple lawsuits, including allegations of an attempt to influence a judicial expert in the opposition -led municipalities. Issues can lead to prison sentence and a political ban.

It also resumes a condemnation in 2022 by insulting the members of the Supreme Electoral Council in Türkiye, an issue that could lead to a political ban.

Imamoglu, the mayor of the largest city in Türkiye, was elected in March 2019 in a historic blow to Erdogan and the President’s Justice and Development Party, which was controlling Istanbul for a quarter of a century. The President’s party pushed the results of the municipal elections in the city of 16 million, claiming violations.

The challenge has repeated the elections a few months later, which IMamoglu also won. The mayor kept his seat after the local elections last year, as his party made great gains against the Ruler’s Party in Erdogan.