The dawn of long knives: this morning, Istanbul police arrested Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on various charges, including “corruption” and “aiding the terrorist organization PKK,” along with around a hundred individuals considered close to him, including the well-known journalist Ismail Saymaz.
Imamoglu, twice elected mayor under the main opposition party CHP, is regarded as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main rival, and had announced his candidacy for the 2028 presidential elections. He had recently come under investigation for multiple charges.
Signs that something was about to happen became evident on Tuesday when, under government pressure, Istanbul University unexpectedly revoked Imamoglu’s degree—35 years after it was awarded—due to minor procedural irregularities. In Turkey, a university degree is required to run for president. In recent months, the mayor has faced multiple investigations, including for “attempting to influence the judiciary.” In 2022, he was sentenced to over two years in prison for insulting a public official—a ruling that also barred him from political life but is still under review by the appellate court.
Imamoglu himself announced his arrest in a message on X: “Hundreds of police officers showed up at my door and raided my house. I have faith in my nation.” One of his aides confirmed that the mayor had been taken to police headquarters.
The arrest warrant was issued based on charges of “extortion, corruption, fraud, and bid rigging by a criminal organization” and for “aiding the terrorist organization PKK,” according to various Turkish media reports. “We are facing a great tyranny, but I want you to know that I will not surrender,” Imamoglu stated on X.
Istanbul’s authorities have ordered the temporary closure—until further notice—of several metro stations, including the central Taksim Square stop. The decision appears aimed at preventing potential protests by Imamoglu’s supporters. According to the press agency ANSA, social media platforms X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and others are currently inaccessible in Turkey.
Following the arrest, Istanbul’s officials banned political demonstrations and public readings of press statements until March 23.
The CHP, Turkey’s main opposition party, described the arrest as “a coup against the national will.” “What is happening right now is an attempt to prevent the nation from choosing its next president,” stated CHP Secretary Ozgur Ozel.
Trading on the Istanbul Stock Exchange was temporarily suspended after the BIST index dropped 6.9% at the opening, shortly after Imamoglu’s arrest. The Turkish lira also hit new record lows against the euro and the dollar.
