In a move condemned by Turkish opposition parties, Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has been arrested on charges of corruption and links to a terrorist group. His arrest comes just days before he was expected to be nominated as the main opposition candidate for Turkey’s 2028 presidential election.
The Turkish government has accused İmamoğlu of engaging in bribery and supporting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group classified as a terrorist organisation by Turkey and its allies. Imamoglu denies all charges, declaring on social media,
The will of the people cannot be silenced.
Alongside İmamoğlu, 100 others were also arrested, including journalists and business figures. Istanbul authorities have banned protests for four days and restricted access to social media platforms such as X, YouTube, and Instagram. Several city streets and metro lines have been shut down.
The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), to which İmamoğlu belongs, claims his arrest is an attempt by the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to suppress political opposition. The party’s chairman, Ozgur Ozel, said they will proceed with nominating Imamoglu as their candidate, calling the arrest “a coup attempt against the next President.”
The move is awkward for European leaders. Turkey is a NATO member and Europe is relying on the country’s large army to help defend democracy in Ukraine—all while it apparently stifles democracy at home. Germany and France expressed concern over the arrest, but there is likely little they can do against a key ally.
The financial markets have reacted negatively to the news: the Turkish lira fell to an all-time low against the dollar, while Istanbul’s stock market dropped over 5%.
President Erdogan has been in power for 22 years. Under the country’s constitution, he is not allowed to run for another term in the 2028 election—unless he calls for an early vote or changes the law. Many now speculate that İmamoğlu’s arrest is part of a broader strategy to secure Erdogan’s continued rule.
