Turkish authorities arrest key rival of Erdogan; critics say it’s ‘no coincidence’

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan faces what critics say about opposition politicians in terms of corruption and terrorism after police detained his main rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

The Office of the Chief Prosecutor of Istanbul issued a detention order against İmamoğlu and 106 other outstanding political figures. The suspects allegedly committed bribery, embezzlement of public funds, bidding, aggravated fraud and illegal acquisition of personal data, including crimes.

İmamoğlu is accused of working with the banned Workers’ Kurdish Party, Kurdish nationalist group leads the rebellion Türkiye’s country And it is regarded as terrorist organizations by Türkiye, the United States and the European Union.

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Critics still suspect arresting a well-known opposition figure, especially when Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development (AKP) In the past year, political parties have suffered losses in local elections.

“It is no coincidence that İmamoğlu’s arrest was. He was a political enemy of Erdoğan, and his campaign against him may have been squeezing over the presidency.

Ciddi warned that the detention of political opponents represents Türkiye as the end of democracy, claiming that freedom, fair elections and peaceful transfer of power are no longer possible.

Turkish officials withdrew the charges, believing the arrests were politically motivated.

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A spokesman for the Turkish Embassy in Washington digitizes Fox News numbers into a statement from the Justice Department.

Attorney General Yılmaz Tunç wrote: “To say the least, trying to connect judicial investigations and cases with our president is a bold and irresponsible act.”

The statement added: “In our country, the separation of powers – legislation, enforcement and justice – is a fundamental principle. The judiciary does not accept orders from anyone.”

İmamoğlu thanks global leaders and members European Parliament In an article on X, vowed to continue to fight for Türkiye’s democracy.

“I am determined not only to entrust 16 million residents of Istanbul, but also to 86 million residents of my own and all those who uphold democracy and the democracy and justice of the world. I am determined to fight for fundamental rights and freedoms.”

Secular members Republican People’s Party (CHP)was elected as mayor of Istanbul in 2019 and re-elected in 2023. In both elections, he defeated Erdogan’s backed AKP rival. In the next presidential election scheduled for 2028, he is considered a possible nominee for health to face Erdogan, or if the election is called an election if it is early.

Authorities prohibit public demonstrations for four days to calm any objection to the arrest. Türkiye’s main opposition party chairman Özgürözel sent a large demonstration gathered in Istanbul and called for large-scale protests against opposition acts that the opposition believed were flagrant violations of democratic norms.

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In response to the arrest, the University of Istanbul repealed Imamomo’s diploma, a move that would ban him from running for president, requiring the president to have a university degree under Turkish law. İmamoğlu said the bill went beyond the authority of the university, which is a disturbing sign of political intervention in academia.

In an article on X, Soner Cagaptay, a senior researcher at the Washington Institute, said Erdoğan was blasted into a political star in 1999, then Mayor in Istanbul, when he was initially imprisoned for inciting religious hatred, only to see his popularity rise and become a leader in Turkey since 2003.