The mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, was formally arrested and jailed pending a trial on corruption charges, sparking widespread street demonstrations in Turkey and deepening concerns over democracy and the rule of law in the country. The arrest is seen as a political move to eliminate a major contender from the next presidential race scheduled for 2028. Despite officials claiming that legal actions against opposition figures are independent, many view the arrest as politically motivated.
Imamoglu was the sole candidate in a primary election held by the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) to endorse him as its presidential candidate. The party set up symbolic ballot boxes nationwide for people to express their support for the mayor. International bodies, such as the Council of Europe, have condemned the decision to imprison Imamoglu and called for his immediate release.
Imamoglu had already faced multiple criminal cases and legal challenges before his arrest, including a nullified diploma and an appeal for insulting members of Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council. He had vowed to challenge the decision that effectively bars him from running for president due to the requirement of being a university graduate. Imamoglu was elected as mayor of Istanbul in 2019, defeating Erdogan’s party, which had controlled the city for a quarter-century. The challenge to the election results and subsequent repeat election did not change the outcome, as Imamoglu retained his seat following local elections in the following year.
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