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Istanbul Mayor were detained as part of a Turkish corruption investigation – a few days before he was elected presidential candidate.
Ekrem Imamoglu, from the secular Republican People’s Party (CHP), is regarded as one of the strongest political competitors of the President of Turkish Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Prosecutors say he is accused of “a suspect leader of a criminal organization.” A hundred suspects, including other politicians, journalists and businessmen, were also detained as part of the investigation.
Imomoglu said that “the will of people cannot be silent.” State media report a four-day blocking of meetings, demonstrations and press releases in the city.
Having joined the social media after the allegations against him, Imomoglu promised to “become decisive” for Turkish residents and all who support democracy and justice around the world. “
“I stand firmly in the fight for fundamental rights and freedoms,” he added.
Dozens of police officers participated in the morning raid on the House of Imomoglu in the historic Turkish city
The presidential choice of CHP, in which Imomoglu is the only candidate, is due on Sunday.
It happened a day after the University of Istanbul canceled the degree, the decision that, if supported, would prevent him from working in the presidential election. According to the Turkish Constitution, the presidents must complete a higher education for the post.
Imomoglu called this step “legally unjustified”, adding that universities “should remain independent, free from political intervention and dedicated to knowledge.”
His party CHP described recent interference against him as a “coup attempt” to “prevent the nation to determine the next president.”
Ozgur Ozel Chairman, Ozel, wrote on X that deciding on behalf of people, replacement of his will, or using power to prevent it, made a coup.
His deputy chairman Ilhan Podgeg accused the government of using detention as a “tool for intimidation” by Turkey’s opposition.
He said the BBC that his party was “very concerned about the state of democracy in Turkey as a whole.”
The mass media reports that they are accused of extortion and fraud, Imomoglu also allegedly assisted the PCC.
PCC – or Kurdistan labor parties – has caused an uprising since 1984 and provided for a terrorist group in Turkey, the EU, the United Kingdom and the United States.
This is not the first time Imomaglu had a brush with the law.
In 2022, He was sentenced to more than two and a half years in prison for offensive government officials in speech.
After the mass detention on Wednesday, a four-day ban on all demonstrations, meetings and press releases in Istanbul, which is said to be “preserving public order and preventing possible provocative actions,” was adopted.
Many Istanbul streets were also closed for movement, while some subway lines also canceled their services.
