The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges has ignited widespread protests across Turkey, marking the largest wave of street demonstrations in over a decade. Imamoglu, a prominent political figure and a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was formally arrested by a court on Sunday and ordered to be jailed pending trial, fueling concerns about democracy and the rule of law in Turkey.
The mayor’s detention, following a raid on his residence earlier in the week, is widely perceived as a politically motivated attempt to eliminate a significant contender from the 2028 presidential race. Government officials, however, maintain that the legal actions are independent and not politically driven.
Imamoglu’s arrest has spurred his opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), to initiate a primary presidential election, endorsing him as their candidate despite his detention. The CHP has also established “solidarity boxes” nationwide, allowing non-party members to express their support for the mayor.
This escalation marks a significant crackdown on opposition figures and dissenting voices in Turkey. Imamoglu had previously faced multiple criminal cases and a 2022 conviction for insulting electoral officials. Additionally, his university diploma was recently nullified, effectively barring him from presidential candidacy.
Imamoglu’s rise to prominence began with his victory in the 2019 Istanbul mayoral election, a major setback for Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), which had controlled the city for 25 years. Despite attempts by the AKP to overturn the election results, Imamoglu secured a second victory in a rerun. He further solidified his political standing by retaining his seat and contributing to the CHP’s gains in the recent local elections.
The ongoing protests and political turmoil underscore the deepening tensions between the government and the opposition, raising critical questions about the state of democracy in Turkey.
