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Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Turkiye arrests opposition figures in Istanbul
Shafaq News/ Turkish authorities on Saturday ordered the arrest of multiple opposition figures in Istanbul and raided several municipalities led by the opposition, according to state media reports. Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul's mayor and a prominent rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is currently in prison awaiting trial on corruption and terrorism-related charges, which he has denied. His detention in March sparked widespread protests, economic disruptions, and allegations of government overreach in the judiciary — claims the government denies, asserting that the judiciary remains independent. Since Imamoglu's arrest, authorities have detained dozens of members of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and officials from municipalities run by the party. Turkish authorities also blocked Imamoglu's social media account on X earlier this month. State-run Anadolu Agency and private broadcaster NTV reported that arrest warrants were issued for 47 individuals in four separate investigations into alleged illicit enrichment, with 28 already detained. Among the detainees are former CHP lawmaker Aykut Erdogdu, several district mayors in Istanbul, senior municipal officials, and mayors from Adana province in southern Turkiye. Police raided municipal offices in Avcilar, Buyukcekmece, Gaziosmanpasa, Seyhan, and Ceyhan, where mayors are facing arrest orders. In response to the latest wave of arrests, the CHP called for an emergency meeting in Istanbul. Western countries, human rights groups, and the CHP have repeatedly condemned the operations as anti-democratic measures aimed at eliminating the opposition's electoral prospects. Imamoglu and the CHP insist there is no credible evidence supporting the charges. Polls show Imamoglu's popularity has risen since his arrest, widening his lead over Erdogan and fueling speculation that he will be Erdogan's main challenger in the next presidential elections, scheduled no earlier than 2028.
Roya News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Roya News
Fifth wave of arrests hits Istanbul as Turkey jails more opposition voices
Turkish authorities have launched a new wave of arrests targeting dozens of opposition figures, including mayors and party officials in Istanbul and Adana, in what critics say is a politically motivated campaign. According to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, arrest warrants were issued for 47 individuals, with at least 30 already detained. The latest operation marks the fifth round of detentions since March, when Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu—President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's most prominent political rival—was imprisoned. Local officials, particularly from the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), have been the primary targets of these raids. Turkish officials maintain that the crackdown is rooted in legitimate corruption allegations and deny any political agenda, asserting that the judiciary remains independent. In a letter sent from prison and read at an opposition rally on Saturday, Imamoglu condemned the ongoing arrests. 'It is time to say 'enough is enough' to this unjust and unlawful order.' He added, 'Now you are taking our district mayors with fictitious excuses. What will you do? Where will you stop? Are you going to throw 16 million Istanbulites in jail one by one?' Imamoglu, a rising star within the CHP, has been accused of corruption and links to a terrorist organization—charges he denies. His imprisonment has sparked nationwide protests and further arrests, with the Istanbul prosecutor's office reporting that 819 individuals detained during demonstrations are now facing trial in 20 separate cases. The latest arrests involved four coordinated operations across Istanbul and Adana. Among those apprehended were municipal mayors, city officials, and members of the CHP. Baki Aydöner, a CHP Party Assembly member, shared on X that he was in Ankara when his wife informed him their home was being searched. Aydöner said he was traveling to Istanbul in response to a detention order issued against him.
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- General
- Washington Post
Turkish authorities escalate crackdown on opposition-run Istanbul municipality
Istanbul — Turkish authorities escalated their crackdown on the opposition-run Istanbul municipality Saturday over alleged corruption charges, detaining 30 people. Those held include a former MP of the main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, and the mayors of three CHP-run districts of Istanbul. State-run Anadolu Agency reported that the detentions were part of four separate corruption investigations involving the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Saturday's detentions are the fifth wave of a legal crackdown against the Istanbul administration since March 19, when Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested on corruption charges. The arrest of Imamoglu, who is seen as the most viable challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 22-year rule, sparked widespread demonstrations calling for his release and an end to Turkey's democratic backsliding under Erdogan. The opposition and its supporters claim his arrest, and the subsequent arrest of dozens more from the CHP, are politically motivated. 'This time the coup didn't come with boots and tanks, but with prosecutor's robes,' said CHP chairman Ozgur Ozel on Saturday before a crowd of supporters in the northwestern city of Duzce. However, the government insists Turkey's judiciary is independent and free of political influence. The second crackdown on CHP-run municipalities and districts occurred in late April, and the third and fourth waves were in late May, resulting in dozens of detentions.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Turkish authorities escalate crackdown on opposition-run Istanbul municipality
Istanbul (AP) — Turkish authorities escalated their crackdown on the opposition-run Istanbul municipality Saturday over alleged corruption charges, detaining 30 people. Those held include a former MP of the main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, and the mayors of three CHP-run districts of Istanbul. State-run Anadolu Agency reported that the detentions were part of four separate corruption investigations involving the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Saturday's detentions are the fifth wave of a legal crackdown against the Istanbul administration since March 19, when Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested on corruption charges. The arrest of Imamoglu, who is seen as the most viable challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 22-year rule, sparked widespread demonstrations calling for his release and an end to Turkey's democratic backsliding under Erdogan. The opposition and its supporters claim his arrest, and the subsequent arrest of dozens more from the CHP, are politically motivated. 'This time the coup didn't come with boots and tanks, but with prosecutor's robes,' said CHP chairman Ozgur Ozel on Saturday before a crowd of supporters in the northwestern city of Duzce. However, the government insists Turkey's judiciary is independent and free of political influence. The second crackdown on CHP-run municipalities and districts occurred in late April, and the third and fourth waves were in late May, resulting in dozens of detentions.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Turkish authorities escalate crackdown on opposition-run Istanbul municipality
Istanbul — Turkish authorities escalated their crackdown on the opposition-run Istanbul municipality Saturday over alleged corruption charges, detaining 30 people. Those held include a former MP of the main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, and the mayors of three CHP-run districts of Istanbul. State-run Anadolu Agency reported that the detentions were part of four separate corruption investigations involving the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Saturday's detentions are the fifth wave of a legal crackdown against the Istanbul administration since March 19, when Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested on corruption charges. The arrest of Imamoglu, who is seen as the most viable challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 22-year rule, sparked widespread demonstrations calling for his release and an end to Turkey's democratic backsliding under Erdogan. The opposition and its supporters claim his arrest, and the subsequent arrest of dozens more from the CHP, are politically motivated. 'This time the coup didn't come with boots and tanks, but with prosecutor's robes,' said CHP chairman Ozgur Ozel on Saturday before a crowd of supporters in the northwestern city of Duzce. However, the government insists Turkey's judiciary is independent and free of political influence. The second crackdown on CHP-run municipalities and districts occurred in late April, and the third and fourth waves were in late May, resulting in dozens of detentions. The Associated Press
