Turkish police detain Erdogan rival and Istanbul mayor Imamoglu
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Turkish police detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu from his home on Wednesday, just one day after his university revoked his diploma—a decision that could prevent him from running in the next presidential election.
Prosecutors accused Imamoglu of leading a criminal network involved in extortion and separately charged him with terrorism-related offences, alleging a coalition between him and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) ahead of last year's local elections.
Imamoglu has been campaigning to become the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP)’s presidential candidate, a nomination expected to be announced in April. He is widely regarded as one of the most formidable rivals to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was also once the mayor of Istanbul.
His detention comes a year after his victory in the Istanbul mayoral elections, where he was re-elected with 51.14% of the vote.
The terrorism charges against him allow the Turkish Interior Minister to remove him from office and replace him with a government-appointed official until the court process is completed.
The next presidential election is scheduled for 2028, but an early vote is considered likely.
Imamoglu’s detention follows a series of investigations and lawsuits against him, with the most serious charges carrying a potential prison sentence of over seven years and a political ban.
On Monday, Imamoglu stated that his diploma had been revoked unlawfully.
In an audio message relayed by his lawyers to journalists, he described the presence of more than a hundred police officers outside his residence as “tyranny.” He accused Erdogan of orchestrating the case against him, saying, “This nation will hold these few people accountable before justice.”
Ozgur Ozel, chairman of the CHP, described Imamoglu’s detention as a “civil coup” against the will of the people in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
Turkish media reported that detention orders had been issued for around 100 other individuals linked to Imamoglu, including Istanbul district mayors, politicians, and prominent dissident journalist Ismail Saymaz.
The Istanbul governor’s office ordered the closure of several major streets and roads in the city, as well as key transportation hubs, while imposing a four-day ban on protests.
NetBlocks, an advocacy group monitoring internet connectivity, reported that the government had throttled access to major social media platforms, including X, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, on Wednesday.
Imamoglu was already awaiting a court decision after being sentenced to two years in prison for allegedly insulting public officials in 2019.
He had previously been removed from office in 2019 after winning the mayoral election, which Erdogan and his party contested as “stolen.”
Imamoglu secured a major victory in the re-run election later that same year, solidifying his position in Turkish politics.
