Istanbul mayor and Erdogan presidential rival arrested | Global News Avenue

Turkish authorities detained the mayor of Istanbul just days before he was elected as president.

Ekrem Imamoglu of the Secular Republican People’s Party (CHP) is regarded as one of the most powerful political rivals of Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan.

Prosecutors accused him of corruption and helping a terrorist group, calling him “the criminal organization leader suspicious.”

Police detained 100 people — including other politicians, journalists and businessmen — as part of the investigation, the Istanbul governor’s office imposed four-day restrictions in the city.

Imamoglu said online: “The will of the people cannot be silent.”

In social media videos, he vowed to “resolutely” for the Turkish people and for all those who uphold democracy and justice.

“I firmly fight for fundamental rights and freedoms,” Imamoglu added.

Protests erupted in Türkiye’s streets, university campuses and underground stations, and crowds shouted anti-government slogans. This is public anger that has not been seen for many years.

There are reports of clashes between protesters in Türkiye’s largest city and police. Video from Reuters news agency shows police using pepper spray to disperse people outside Istanbul University.

The government has banned public gatherings in Istanbul as part of the four-day limit. But there will be more protests nationwide as opposition leaders, including Imamoglu’s wife, urging people to “raise their voices.”

Many streets in Istanbul were also closed due to traffic, and some subway lines also canceled their services.

UK-based Internet WatchDog NetBlocks said Wednesday Türkiye severely restricts access to social media sites like X, YouTube, Instagram, and Tiktok.

The arrests are part of a major nationwide crackdown in recent months, targeting opposition politicians, municipalities, journalists and the entertainment industry.

Concerns about Turkey’s transition to dictatorship were expressed on social media following the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul, with some calling for boycott of the upcoming presidential election, believing that a fair and democratic vote is no longer possible.

Imamoglu’s party even condemned the arrests as a “coup against our next president”, a sentiment that echoed the voices of loved ones widely.

But the Turkish Attorney General criticized those who linked Erdogan to the arrest.

Yilmaz Tunc said it was “extremely dangerous and wrong”, a political move that insisted that no one was beyond Turkey’s law.

Erdogan and his party also denied these claims, insisting that Türkiye’s judiciary is independent. He has been in power for 22 years.

last year, imamoglu wins second semester Just like the mayor of Istanbul, his health conference party was there and Ankara swept the local elections.

This is the defeat of Erdogan in the ballot box since he came to power.

Elections are also a personal blow to the president, who grew up to become mayor of Istanbul.

Dozens of police officers participated in the morning raid of Imamoglu houses in Türkiye’s largest city.

The candidates for the presidential candidates of the Centre for Health Protection, of which Imamogru is the only one to run for the election, will be held on Sunday.

Imamoglu’s arrest came the second day after the University of Istanbul abolished his degree for suspected violations, a decision that would prevent him from running in the presidential election.

According to the Turkish Constitution, the president must complete higher education in order to serve.

Imamoglu called the move “legally unfounded” and added that universities must remain independent, free from political interference and devote themselves to knowledge”.

The presidential election is currently scheduled to be held in 2028. Erdogan is currently unable to run for office again because he is in his second term and has served as prime minister before that.

The only way Erdogan can participate in another election is to change the constitution, or hold early elections before the end of his term.

In addition to being accused of extortion and fraud, Imamoglu is also allegedly helping the Workers’ Kurdish Party (PKK).

The PKK (or PKK) has begun insurgency since 1984 and has been banned as terrorist organizations in Türkiye, the EU, the UK and the US.

The group announced its decision earlier this month Lying down your armsHe held talks with Turkish officials during the phone call of his imprisoned leader.

International response to arrests is negative. The German Foreign Ministry said the arrest was part of a “strengthening legal measure” and was intended to exert pressure, while the French Foreign Ministry said the arrest was “a “deep concern” about the arrest, which could have significant consequences for Turkish democracy.”

Meanwhile, the Turkish lira briefly beat the dollar because the market responded poorly to political uncertainty.

Although many people were shocked to wake up news of Imamogru’s arrest, the legal pressure on popular opposition leaders is far from new.

He has faced multiple investigations, and Leave a political ban In December 2022, the final ruling is still under trial due to allegations that insulted the Turkish Election Commission in 2019.

Furthermore, he has been the subject of cases related to the alleged bidding violations during his tenure as mayor of Beylikduzu in Istanbul.

Recently, on January 20, he filed a new case for his criticism of prosecutors.