Turkish court jails opposition presidential candidate on corruption charges, prompting mass protests News
Hilmi Hacaloğlu, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Turkish court jails opposition presidential candidate on corruption charges, prompting mass protests

Turkish authorities formally arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu Sunday on multiple corruption charges. A Turkish court remanded İmamoğlu in custody pending trial, prompting mass protests across Istanbul and other cities.

İmamoğlu, a leading member of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), was detained on Wednesday, as part of a sweeping investigation into an alleged criminal network. More than 100 individuals, including politicians, journalists, and business figures, were also taken into custody. He is accused of bribery, extortion, and rigging public tenders. He is also facing a terrorism-related investigation.

Following his arrest, İmamoğlu was transferred to Marmara Prison near Istanbul’s Silivri district. The Interior Ministry later suspended his mayoral duties, stating that the Istanbul municipal council, controlled by the CHP, would appoint an interim mayor in his absence. The arrest has ignited widespread demonstrations, with thousands gathering across the country to protest what they view as a politically motivated case.

İmamoğlu himself has urged citizens to mobilize against what he called an “extrajudicial execution” of justice. In a social media post during his transfer to prison, he declared:

Türkiye woke up to a great betrayal today. The judicial process being carried out is not a judicial procedure, it is a complete extrajudicial execution. I invite our nation to a responsible struggle for rights. This is a fight for the future of our nation and our children. Vote today for the future of Türkiye, then raise your voice in the democracy squares of Istanbul and beyond. It is time to stand together, leaving no one behind.

The arrest has not only ignited mass demonstrations but also revived concerns over Türkiye’s use of counter-terrorism laws to stifle dissent. A UN expert expressed concern in January 2025 about Türkiye’s “misuse” of such laws, citing the detention of nine human rights defenders and lawyers. Previously, Amnesty International also condemned the detention of Imamoglu. It noted a severe escalation in the Turkish government’s suppression of political opposition and undermining peaceful dissent.

Critics argue that Article 314 of the Turkish Penal Code and the country’s Anti-Terror Code are overly broad, allowing authorities to criminalize individuals or organizations whose actions are perceived as undermining state unity. This has led to accusations that the Erdogan government is using the legal system as a political tool. As protests continue across the country, the political fallout of İmamoğlu’s arrest remains uncertain.

The case comes amid heightened political tensions in Türkiye, where Erdogan has been in power for 22 years. With constitutional term limits barring him from seeking re-election in 2028, the opposition sees İmamoğlu as a credible alternative. His rising popularity, especially after winning the Istanbul mayoral race twice in 2019, has made him a central figure in Turkish politics. Under Article 101 of the Turkish Constitution, presidential candidates must possess a higher education qualification, a requirement now being challenged in Imamoglu’s case.

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