Turkish police arrest Istanbul mayor in corruption investigation

Turkish police arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on Wednesday on charges of leading a criminal organization, bribery, bid manipulation, and aiding a terrorist organization.

The Turkish media live broadcast dozens of security forces outside Imamoglu’s home, as the police were searching his house as part of the investigation.

Earlier, the Sabah news website reported that Turkish authorities had ordered the arrest of İmamoğlu and 100 others as part of a corruption investigation.

İmamoğlu wrote on X that hundreds of police officers were stationed outside his home, stressing that he wouldn’t surrender and would continue to resist the pressure.

Journalist Murat Ongun, İmamoğlu’s press advisor, announced in a post on X that the Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu was being detained without any explanation.

On Tuesday, Istanbul University announced it had revoked the degree of Ekrem İmamoğlu, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s main political rival, due to irregularities.

This dealt a blow to the opposition, just days before it was due to decide on his nomination as its presidential candidate in the upcoming elections, as according to the Turkish law, Ekrem İmamoğlu cannot run for president without a university degree.

İmamoğlu said the university’s decision was illegal and outside its jurisdiction, and that he would appeal it.

He added, “We’ll take this illegal decision to court and appeal it… I have no confidence in the issuance of fair rulings,” citing political pressure on the judiciary.

He continued, “I won’t give up, and I won’t be discouraged… Ekrem is no longer the target of this action, but rather the entire nation, and everything the people have gained and achieved is at risk”.

The Turkish government led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, denies exerting any political pressure on the courts and says the judiciary is independent.

This move comes amid a stringent legal campaign against opposition figures, particularly İmamoğlu, and the issuance of numerous indictments against him.

The university of Istanbul said in a statement that 38 people were transferred, in 1990, to the English language program at the College of Management, in violation of the regulations governing this, adding that the certificates of 28 people, including İmamoğlu, were revoked because they were invalid and due to clear errors regarding the regulations of the Supreme Council of Education.

In recent weeks, authorities have launched an investigation into allegations of forged official documents related to İmamoğlu’s university degree, a move critic have described as the state’s latest attempt to use the judiciary to curb dissent.

İmamoğlu’s lawyer, Mehmet Bahlawan, told Reuters last week that there were no irregularities in the mayor’s testimony.

He added, in a post on X, Tuesday, that the university’s board of directors doesn’t have the authority to make such a decision, describing it as null and void.

Imamoglu has always been considered a rival to Erdogan, able to compete with him.

Erdogan has ruled Türkiye for more than two decades and, under the constitution, must hold elections before the scheduled date of 2028 if he wants to run again.

Ekrem İmamoğlu has intensified his criticism of the president and his government in recent months, after launching his candidacy to represent the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in the upcoming presidential elections.

On the other hand, the governor of Istanbul issued an order Wednesday morning banning gatherings and demonstrations in the Turkish city for four days.

Meanwhile, Türkiye has restricted access to several social media platforms, including X, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, on Wednesday, following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and his media advisor.

Turkish prosecutors issued arrest warrants for 100 people, including Ekrem İmamoğlu.

The main opposition Republican Peoples’ Party (CHP), of which İmamoğlu is a member, is scheduled to hold primary elections next Sunday, when he was expected to be selected as a candidate in the upcoming presidential election.

Turkey’s next presidential election is scheduled for 2028, however, several reports indicated that an early elections are likely.