Latest news with #BirGun
Al Arabiya
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Fresh arrests in graft case linked to jailed Istanbul mayor
Police in Turkey have detained nearly 70 people in raids linked to alleged corruption at Istanbul City Hall, two months after the jailing of its mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, media reports said Friday. Around 44 people were arrested in dawn raids on Friday, with police still searching for another five in line with a warrant for 49 people issued by the Istanbul public prosecutor's office, the BirGun newspaper reported. Another 20 were picked up in a string of operations that began on Tuesday, the newspaper said. Imamoglu was arrested then jailed two months ago on corruption charges he denies, a move that sparked Turkey's worst protest in decades. He was widely seen as the biggest political rival to longtime President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and his jailing is likely to prevent him from running in the 2028 presidential election. Among those picked up in the latest raids were Imamoglu's private secretary and his private protection officer, with police conducting raids across Turkey, it said. In a statement published early Friday, the Istanbul public prosecutor's office said it had ordered the police's financial crimes unit to arrest 49 people with 'detention, search and seizure operations ongoing.' It said the warrant was in connection with unspecified 'irregularities.' Another 20 people were detained in arrest operations that began on May 20 for allegedly organizing irregular tenders and accepting bribes, among them City's Hall's head of public relations, BirGun said late Thursday.
Jordan Times
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Nearly 50 held in Turkey in probe into opposition Istanbul mayor's 'graft' case
Protesting university students gather to organize a march one month after the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul on April 19, 2025 (AFP photo) ISTANBUL — Istanbul prosecutors on Saturday said nearly 50 people had been arrested in a probe into the graft case of Istanbul's opposition mayor, whose jailing last month sparked nationwide protests. When Ekrem Imamoglu from the main opposition CHP was arrested on March 19, huge crowds began rallying in protest outside Istanbul City Hall every night with the demonstrations quickly spreading across the country in Turkey's biggest wave of unrest since 2013. Istanbul's general prosecutor said "47 people have been arrested". According to local reports, those detained included Imamoglu's aide and brother-in-law Kadriye Kasapoglu and city hall officials. The Bir Gun news site, which is close to the opposition, said raids were underway in the homes of those detained in Ankara, Istanbul and Tekirdag in the country's north-west. Ozgur Celik, the provincial head of CHP in Istanbul, said the arrests were linked to the municipality's opposition to a divisive canal project aimed at connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. The project was initiated by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2011 when he was prime minister to relieve congestion in the Bosphorus Strait, a 50-kilometre-long, 150-metre-wide and 25-metre deep stretch. It has been vehemently opposed by environmentalists because it would encroach on natural and agricultural land and alter a reservoir that partially supplies Istanbul with water. "Today's operation is no coincidence," Celik said on X, explaining that Istanbul's Water and Sewage Authority had ordered the demolition and shutdown of construction sites along the canal route. "The municipal employees who opposed [the project] are currently at the main police station," he said. The deputy chairman of the CHP parliamentary group, Gokhan Gunaydin, said "the real reason for these arrests is the Istanbul Canal". Turkish authorities have launched a social housing project and recently put land adjacent to the route of the future canal up for sale. Imamoglu was arrested for alleged graft on the day he was named the CHP's candidate for the 2028 presidential race. He is a key foe of Erdogan, whose AKP has ruled Turkey since 2002. Imamoglu's arrest, which was widely denounced as a means to leave the CHP leaderless, has also had economic implications. Aside from an opposition call to boycott firms seen as close to the government, Istanbul's benchmark BIST 100 stock exchange fell by nearly 14 per cent over the month. And the Turkish lira shed almost eight percent against the dollar, reaching an all-time low despite a $50-billion injection by the central bank to limit the damage.
Int'l Business Times
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Turkey's Opposition Says Erdogan's Canal Plan Behind Latest Arrests
Prosecutors in Turkey announced dozens more arrests Saturday as part of an ongoing corruption probe, denounced by opposition leaders as a pretext to remove resistance to an ambitious Istanbul canal project. The Istanbul general prosecutor's office said Saturday it had issued warrants for 53 people, 47 of whom had been detained, over a corruption probe into opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who was himself arrested last month. Imamoglu's party, the main opposition CHP, said the arrests were to counter its efforts to block the proposed Istanbul canal project, intended to connect the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. The project is backed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Speaking at a rally Saturday, Ozgur Celik, head of the CHP in Istanbul, accused the government of having "revived" the project just after Imamoglu's arrest. The deputy chairman of the CHP parliamentary group, Gokhan Gunaydin, also argued that "the real reason for these arrests is the Istanbul Canal". But the government's department for combating disinformation has denied the accusations. "The operation follows the investigation opened on March 19 against the mayor for corruption," it said. From his cell, Imamoglu also denounced the arrests, blaming "a handful of ambitious people... who started filling empty files with lies and slander". Imamoglu was arrested for alleged corruption on the day he was named the CHP's candidate for the 2028 presidential race. He is regarded as the most high-profile politician in opposition to Erdogan, whose AKP has ruled Turkey since 2002. Imamoglu's detention sparked huge crowds rallying in nightly protests outside Istanbul City Hall. The demonstrations quickly spread across the country in what became Turkey's biggest wave of unrest since 2013. Among those detained Saturday was Imamoglu's aide and brother-in-law Kadriye Kasapoglu and city hall officials, Turkish media reported. The Bir Gun news site, which is close to the opposition, said raids were underway in the homes of those detained in Ankara, Istanbul and Tekirdag in the country's north-west. "Today's operation is no coincidence," Celik said on X. Istanbul's Water and Sewage Authority had ordered the demolition and shutdown of construction sites along the canal route, he said. "The municipal employees who opposed (the project) are currently at the main police station," he added. The project was initiated by Erdogan in 2011 when he was prime minister. The plan is to relieve congestion in the Bosphorus Strait, a 50-kilometre-long (31 miles), 150-metre-wide and 25-metre deep stretch. Environmentalists vehemently oppose it, arguing it would encroach on natural and agricultural land and alter a reservoir that supplies some of Istanbul's water. Earlier this week, Ozel also told parliament that Imamoglu's arrest was linked to his pushback against the canal. "They cannot dig the canal because Istanbul's guardian Ekrem Imamoglu opposes it. But they started building houses all around! Why? Because they sold them," he said. Turkish authorities have launched a social housing project and recently put land adjacent to the route of the future canal up for sale. The chief of Istanbul's Urban Planning Agency, Bugra Gokce, is among experts that have warned against the canal and housing developments. Gokce has warned of the seismic risks due to the active fault line under the route. Only last Wednesday Istanbul was shaken by a major 6.2 magnitude earthquake followed by numerous aftershocks. Imamoglu's arrest, which was widely denounced as a bid to leave the CHP leaderless, has also had economic implications. Aside from an opposition call to boycott firms seen as close to the government, Istanbul's benchmark BIST 100 stock exchange has fallen by nearly 14 percent over the month. The Turkish lira has shed almost eight percent against the dollar, reaching an all-time low despite a $50-billion injection by the central bank to limit the damage.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Turkey's opposition says Erdogan's canal plan behind latest arrests
Prosecutors in Turkey announced dozens more arrests Saturday as part of an ongoing corruption probe, denounced by opposition leaders as a pretext to remove resistance to an ambitious Istanbul canal project. The Istanbul general prosecutor's office said Saturday it had issued warrants for 53 people, 47 of whom had been detained, over a corruption probe into opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who was himself arrested last month. Imamoglu's party, the main opposition CHP, said the arrests were to counter its efforts to block the proposed Istanbul canal project, intended to connect the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. The project is backed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Speaking at a rally Saturday, Ozgur Celik, head of the CHP in Istanbul, accused the government of having "revived" the project just after Imamoglu's arrest. The deputy chairman of the CHP parliamentary group, Gokhan Gunaydin, also argued that "the real reason for these arrests is the Istanbul Canal". But the government's department for combating disinformation has denied the accusations. "The operation follows the investigation opened on March 19 against the mayor for corruption," it said. From his cell, Imamoglu also denounced the arrests, blaming "a handful of ambitious people... who started filling empty files with lies and slander". - 'No coincidence' - Imamoglu was arrested for alleged corruption on the day he was named the CHP's candidate for the 2028 presidential race. He is regarded as the most high-profile politician in opposition to Erdogan, whose AKP has ruled Turkey since 2002. Imamoglu's detention sparked huge crowds rallying in nightly protests outside Istanbul City Hall. The demonstrations quickly spread across the country in what became Turkey's biggest wave of unrest since 2013. Among those detained Saturday was Imamoglu's aide and brother-in-law Kadriye Kasapoglu and city hall officials, Turkish media reported. The Bir Gun news site, which is close to the opposition, said raids were underway in the homes of those detained in Ankara, Istanbul and Tekirdag in the country's north-west. "Today's operation is no coincidence," Celik said on X. Istanbul's Water and Sewage Authority had ordered the demolition and shutdown of construction sites along the canal route, he said. "The municipal employees who opposed (the project) are currently at the main police station," he added. The project was initiated by Erdogan in 2011 when he was prime minister. The plan is to relieve congestion in the Bosphorus Strait, a 50-kilometre-long (31 miles), 150-metre-wide and 25-metre deep stretch. Environmentalists vehemently oppose it, arguing it would encroach on natural and agricultural land and alter a reservoir that supplies some of Istanbul's water. - Seismic risks - Earlier this week, Ozel also told parliament that Imamoglu's arrest was linked to his pushback against the canal. "They cannot dig the canal because Istanbul's guardian Ekrem Imamoglu opposes it. But they started building houses all around! Why? Because they sold them," he said. Turkish authorities have launched a social housing project and recently put land adjacent to the route of the future canal up for sale. The chief of Istanbul's Urban Planning Agency, Bugra Gokce, is among experts that have warned against the canal and housing developments. Gokce has warned of the seismic risks due to the active fault line under the route. Only last Wednesday Istanbul was shaken by a major 6.2 magnitude earthquake followed by numerous aftershocks. Imamoglu's arrest, which was widely denounced as a bid to leave the CHP leaderless, has also had economic implications. Aside from an opposition call to boycott firms seen as close to the government, Istanbul's benchmark BIST 100 stock exchange has fallen by nearly 14 percent over the month. The Turkish lira has shed almost eight percent against the dollar, reaching an all-time low despite a $50-billion injection by the central bank to limit the damage. ach//jj
France 24
26-04-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Turkey's opposition says Erdogan's canal plan behind latest arrests
The Istanbul general prosecutor's office said Saturday it had issued warrants for 53 people, 47 of whom had been detained, over a corruption probe into opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who was himself arrested last month. Imamoglu's party, the main opposition CHP, said the arrests were to counter its efforts to block the proposed Istanbul canal project, intended to connect the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. The project is backed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Speaking at a rally Saturday, Ozgur Celik, head of the CHP in Istanbul, accused the government of having "revived" the project just after Imamoglu's arrest. The deputy chairman of the CHP parliamentary group, Gokhan Gunaydin, also argued that "the real reason for these arrests is the Istanbul Canal". But the government's department for combating disinformation has denied the accusations. "The operation follows the investigation opened on March 19 against the mayor for corruption," it said. From his cell, Imamoglu also denounced the arrests, blaming "a handful of ambitious people... who started filling empty files with lies and slander". 'No coincidence' Imamoglu was arrested for alleged corruption on the day he was named the CHP's candidate for the 2028 presidential race. He is regarded as the most high-profile politician in opposition to Erdogan, whose AKP has ruled Turkey since 2002. Imamoglu's detention sparked huge crowds rallying in nightly protests outside Istanbul City Hall. The demonstrations quickly spread across the country in what became Turkey's biggest wave of unrest since 2013. Among those detained Saturday was Imamoglu's aide and brother-in-law Kadriye Kasapoglu and city hall officials, Turkish media reported. The Bir Gun news site, which is close to the opposition, said raids were underway in the homes of those detained in Ankara, Istanbul and Tekirdag in the country's north-west. "Today's operation is no coincidence," Celik said on X. Istanbul's Water and Sewage Authority had ordered the demolition and shutdown of construction sites along the canal route, he said. "The municipal employees who opposed (the project) are currently at the main police station," he added. The project was initiated by Erdogan in 2011 when he was prime minister. The plan is to relieve congestion in the Bosphorus Strait, a 50-kilometre-long (31 miles), 150-metre-wide and 25-metre deep stretch. Environmentalists vehemently oppose it, arguing it would encroach on natural and agricultural land and alter a reservoir that supplies some of Istanbul's water. Seismic risks Earlier this week, Ozel also told parliament that Imamoglu's arrest was linked to his pushback against the canal. "They cannot dig the canal because Istanbul's guardian Ekrem Imamoglu opposes it. But they started building houses all around! Why? Because they sold them," he said. Turkish authorities have launched a social housing project and recently put land adjacent to the route of the future canal up for sale. The chief of Istanbul's Urban Planning Agency, Bugra Gokce, is among experts that have warned against the canal and housing developments. Gokce has warned of the seismic risks due to the active fault line under the route. Only last Wednesday Istanbul was shaken by a major 6.2 magnitude earthquake followed by numerous aftershocks. Imamoglu's arrest, which was widely denounced as a bid to leave the CHP leaderless, has also had economic implications. Aside from an opposition call to boycott firms seen as close to the government, Istanbul's benchmark BIST 100 stock exchange has fallen by nearly 14 percent over the month. The Turkish lira has shed almost eight percent against the dollar, reaching an all-time low despite a $50-billion injection by the central bank to limit the damage.
