Police arrest Istanbul mayor and key Erdogan rival over alleged corruption and terror links
Police in Turkey arrested Istanbul’s mayor — a key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — as part of investigations into alleged corruption and terror links.
Police in Turkey on Wednesday arrested Istanbul’s mayor — a popular opposition leader and key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — as part of investigations into alleged corruption and terror links. It was a dramatic escalation in an ongoing government crackdown on the opposition and dissenting voices in Turkey.
The state-run Anadolu Agency said prosecutors issued detention warrants for the mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, and some 100 other people. Among those detained was Imamoglu’s close aide, Murat Ongun.
Authorities also closed several roads around Istanbul and banned demonstrations in the city for four days in an apparent effort to prevent protests following the arrest.
Critics say the crackdown follows significant losses by Erdogan’s ruling party in local elections last year amid growing calls for early national elections. Government officials insist that the courts operate independently and reject claims that legal actions against opposition figures are politically motivated.
The arrest came during a search of Imamoglu’s home, but it was not immediately clear if police confiscated anything at the site.
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