Turkish authorities arrest Istanbul mayor, Erdogan's main rival

Turkish authorities arrested President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival on Wednesday on charges including corruption and aiding a terrorist group, in what the main opposition party called "an attempted coup against our future president."

The move against Ekrem Imamoglu, the popular mayor of Istanbul, appears to cap a months-long legal crackdown on opposition figures across the country that has been criticized as a politicized attempt to silence dissent.

Erdogan's government denies the charges and says the judiciary is independent. Meanwhile, it is pushing to end a decades-long insurgency by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) after its imprisoned leader called for disarmament last month.

Imamoglu, 54, who leads Erdogan in some polls, faces two separate investigations that also include charges of running a criminal organization, bribery and tender rigging.

Television footage showed him adjusting his tie and preparing to leave his home for detention on Wednesday morning.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) was poised within days to nominate the two-term mayor as its official presidential challenger to Erdogan, who has led Turkey for more than two decades.

The next election is set for 2028, but Erdogan has reached his two-term limit as president, having previously served as prime minister. If he wants to run for president again, he must call early elections and claim that he has not completed his second term or change the constitution.

In a video he shared on social media, Imamoglu said he would not give up and would continue to stand tall in the face of pressure.

CHP leader Ozgur Ozel called the arrest a coup attempt and called on all opposition groups to unite against it. The party will continue and elect Imamoglu as leader on Sunday regardless, he added.

According to a statement from the Istanbul prosecutor's office on the first investigation, a total of 100 people, including journalists and businessmen, are suspected of being involved in criminal activities related to certain tenders awarded by the municipality.

He said a second investigation accused Imamoglu and six others of aiding the PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies.

Last month, the PKK declared a ceasefire in response to a call by imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan for disarmament, marking a major step toward ending an insurgency that has left more than 40,000 dead and could have regional security and political consequences.

Imamoglu's ban came a day after Istanbul University revoked Imamoglu's degree, which if upheld would have prevented him from running in the presidential election.

The Istanbul governor's office banned all meetings and protests in the city for four days.

The expanded legal crackdown includes multiple lawsuits and the appointments of several government trustees to municipal positions held by the opposition. /Telegraph/

Millet iradesine darbe vuruluyor. pic.twitter.com/waXHu23ZVN

- Ekrem İmamoğlu (@ekrem_imamoglu) March 19, 2025