Istanbul mayor and Erdoğan rival arrested ahead of party primary, opposition protests ‘coup’

Turkish authorities arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu on Wednesday on suspicion of corruption, running a criminal organization and aiding a terrorist group, according to a report by CNN in Turkey. 

Imamoğlu, a Turkish businessman and politician, is the 32nd mayor of Istanbul, who has been in office since March 2019. He is considered the main political rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has acted several times to neutralize Imamoglu’s ability to challenge him. 

Most recently, in December 2022, Imamoğlu was sentenced to about three years in prison for insulting representatives of Turkey's Supreme Election Council. He was also investigated for “irregularities in the elections of polling workers.” 

In 2008, Imamoğlu joined the Republican People's Party (CHP). With the resignation of the former mayor of Istanbul, Kadir Topbaş, Imamoğlu was appointed as his replacement. In 2019, Imamoğlu won the election as mayor of Istanbul in a run-off election, defeating Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) candidate, Binali Yildirim. On March 31, 2024, he again defeated the Justice and Development Party (AKP) candidate – and was elected to another term in office. 

While elections are not scheduled until 2028, many analysts expect Erdoğan to call early elections in an attempt to overcome term limits, which would prevent him from running again. Erdoğan has also served as prime minister, and according to the constitution, is unable to serve another term if elections are held as scheduled.  

“I am saddened to say, a handful of people who are trying to steal the will of the people, have sent the dear police, the security forces implicating them in this wrongful doing,” Imamoğlu said in a video posted to X on Wednesday morning. 

Turkish news site Andadolu reported that Imamoğlu, and around 100 others linked to him, were accused of being members of a criminal organization, extortion, bribery and aggravated fraud, according to a statement from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. 

The arrest comes just days before Imamoğlu’s party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), is scheduled to hold primaries. Imamoğlu was expected to be chosen as the party’s presidential candidate for future elections. 

It also comes just one day after Istanbul University said it had annulled Imamoğlu’s degree over “irregularities.” Turkish law requires a candidate for president to have a university degree. 

Imamoğlu called the university’s decision “illegal,” saying he would mount a legal challenge to the annulment. 

According to the Netblocks internet observatory, following the arrests, the Turkish government began restricting access to multiple social media platforms including 𝕏, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. 

The governor of the Istanbul province suspended the right to hold demonstrations in the city until March 23, and announced the closure of certain metro stations in downtown Istanbul. 

Ozgur Ozel, head of the CHP party, called the arrest “a coup attempt against our next president.” 

Erdoğan’s AKP party faced its worst election defeats last year when the CHP party defeated them in several municipal elections across the country. 

Over the past few months, the AKP government has engaged in legal crackdowns on opposition parties, which has widely been seen as a move to damage their electoral prospects. 

Following Imamoğlu’s detention, the Turkish lira plunged in value, falling as much as 12.7%, according to Reuters, and stocks on the Istanbul market were trading lower. 

“The will of the people cannot be silenced through intimidation or unlawful acts,” Imamoğlu said. “I stand resolute, entrusting myself not only to the 16 million residents of Istanbul but to the 86 million citizens of Türkiye and all who uphold democracy and justice worldwide. I stand firm in my fight for the fundamental rights and freedoms.”