Turkish police have detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu following a raid on his residence. The arrest of the opposition politician, widely considered a key contender against incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey’s future presidential elections, has sparked significant political controversy.
According to local media reports citing the General Prosecutor’s Office, Imamoglu’s arrest is linked to an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption, illegal tenders, fraud, and bribery. Additionally, authorities accuse him of collaborating with banned terrorist organizations, specifically the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Turkish media reports indicate that alongside Imamoglu, approximately 100 individuals have been detained as part of the investigation.
Imamoglu, 54, has served as the mayor of Istanbul since 2019. In the most recent municipal elections held in March 2024, he secured re-election as the candidate of the opposition Republican People’s Party, defeating Murat Kurum, the nominee of Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), with 51% of the vote. Imamoglu has been widely viewed as a potential presidential candidate for the 2028 elections, with CHP leaders considering him a frontrunner to challenge Erdogan’s continued leadership.
The Republican People’s Party has condemned Imamoglu’s detention, labeling it “an attempted coup against the future president.” Imamoglu, in a statement following his arrest, vowed not to surrender to political pressure.
In a related development, on March 17, Istanbul University revoked Imamoglu’s higher education diploma following a request from the Turkish Attorney General’s Office, which questioned the legitimacy of his academic credentials. Under Turkish law, only individuals possessing a valid higher education diploma are eligible to run for the presidency, raising concerns that this move may be a politically motivated attempt to disqualify him from future elections.
