The formal arrest and pre-trial detention of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul, Turkey, on corruption charges, has sparked large-scale protests within Turkey. A media union stated that Turkish authorities arrested multiple journalists amid growing protests against Mayor İmamoğlu's arrest, exacerbating concerns about democracy and the rule of law in Turkey. These arrests highlight the tension between the government and the press.
Read Also...:
Top US officials shift blame for Signal chat leak to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth
03-26, 2025
Trump says national security advisor doesn't need to apologise after journalist was added into group text discussing war plans
03-26, 2025
FBI launches task force targeting anti-Tesla 'domestic terrorism'
03-26, 2025
Papua New Guinea shuts down Facebook in test to stop 'pornography, misinformation, hate speech'
03-26, 2025According to the Disk-Basin-Is media union, at least eight journalists and photojournalists have been detained, which the union called "an attack on freedom of the press and the people's right to know the truth," and demanded their immediate release. Social media platform X stated that it is fighting multiple court orders from Turkish authorities aimed at blocking over 700 accounts, including those of Turkish news outlets, journalists, and political figures. This censorship raises concerns about freedom of expression.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that a total of 1,133 people have been detained since the mayor's arrest, with 123 police officers injured during the protests, and items such as acid, Molotov cocktails, and knives confiscated. Yerlikaya said on social media: "Some circles have been exploiting the right to assembly and demonstration, attempting to disrupt public order, incite street riots, and attack our police." He added that some of those detained have been identified as having links to groups designated as terrorist organizations, while others have criminal records. The government's response suggests a firm stance against what it perceives as threats to public order.
Mayor İmamoğlu's imprisonment is widely seen as a politically motivated move aimed at removing a key challenger to President Erdoğan from the next presidential race, scheduled for 2028. Government officials deny these accusations, insisting that Turkish courts operate independently. İmamoğlu is accused of running a criminal organization, bribery, extortion, illegally recording personal data, and manipulating tenders, charges he denies. Although he still faces prosecution, the request to imprison him on terrorism-related charges was rejected. This controversy fuels debate about the independence of the judiciary.
The Interior Ministry later stated that İmamoğlu has been "temporarily" suspended. The municipality had previously appointed an acting mayor from its council. Erdoğan, in a televised address after a cabinet meeting, accused opposition leader Özgür Özel (who called for peaceful protests) of disrupting public order instead of addressing the alleged corruption issues. He also stated that he would hold those protests accountable. Meanwhile, authorities are investigating the Ankara Mayor's office, headed by another popular opposition figure, over alleged misuse of public funds in organizing 33 concerts. These actions indicate a broader crackdown on opposition figures.
İmamoğlu's election as mayor of Turkey's largest city in March 2019 was a significant blow to President Erdoğan and his Justice and Development Party, which had controlled Istanbul for a quarter of a century. Erdoğan's party pushed to annul the municipal election results in the city of 16 million, citing irregularities. This challenge led to a re-run election months later, which İmamoğlu also won. In last year's local elections, the mayor retained his seat, during which the Republican People's Party (CHP) made significant gains against Erdoğan's ruling party. His continued popularity poses a challenge to the ruling party's dominance.
