Latest news with #İstanbul
CNN
2 days ago
- General
- CNN
Turkish authorities escalate crackdown on opposition-run Istanbul municipality
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.
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 days ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Istanbul Mayor's Staff Targeted By Dozens Of Arrest Warrants
Turkish authorities have issued 47 arrest warrants for municipal officials and staff across Istanbul, whose mayor -- the main political rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan -- has been jailed since March, the state news agency Anadolu reported on Saturday. The warrants were based on "four separate corruption investigations centred on Istanbul", Anadolu said, without revealing how many people were actually taken into custody, AFP reported. The March 19 arrest and jailing of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu sparked the biggest street protests Türkiye had seen in decades. Police had already detained nearly 70 people in subsequent raids linked to alleged corruption at Istanbul City Hall, including Imamoglu's private secretary and his private protection officer. The latest warrants targeted a former opposition lawmaker and five mayors of Istanbul districts, according to Anadolu. The private television station Halk, seen as close to the opposition CHP party that Imamoglu belongs to, said that nine district mayors -- out of a total of 39 -- had now been arrested and were being kept in custody. The CHP, which has nominated Imamoglu as its candidate in presidential elections due in 2028, did not immediately comment on the latest warrants.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Turkey arrests dozens including opposition party members
Turkish authorities have ordered the arrests of dozens of people facing corruption allegations, including opposition party members, in Istanbul and the city of Adana. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued detention orders for 47 people and detained 30. Others detained included local municipal mayors and Istanbul officials. The operation is the fifth wave of arrests against the government's political opponents, starting with the jailing of Istanbul's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, regarded as President Tayyip Erdogan's main rival in March. Turkey's government has rejected claims of political interference, insisting the judiciary is independent. Imamoglu sent a letter from prison to an opposition rally on Saturday, saying: "It is time to say "enough is enough" to this unjust and unlawful order." "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?" he said in the letter. Imamoglu is part of the Republican People's Party (CHP), who have been leading in many polls against Erdogan's Justice and Development Party. He was jailed over charges of corruption and aiding a terrorist group. He has denied all charges. His arrest triggered mass protests and arrests across Turkey. The Istanbul prosecutor's office has said 819 people arrested in protests will be tried in 20 criminal investigations. Some 110 people were arrested in the first four waves of arrests under corruption allegations. The fifth wave on Saturday consisted of four different operations in two cities. Municipal mayors, CHP party members and city officials were among those arrested. CHP Party Assembly member Baki Aydöner wrote on X that he was in Ankara for a party meeting when his wife called and told him that the house was searched and there was a detention order against him. He said he was going to Istanbul. The UN's human rights office said in March it was "very concerned" at the mass arrests, with Amnesty International at the time calling the detentions "draconian actions". Who is Turkish opposition leader Ekrem Imamoglu? Erdogan's main rival in Turkey makes first court appearance since arrest Hundreds arrested in crackdown on May Day protests in Istanbul
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Turkey arrests dozens including opposition party members
Turkish authorities have ordered the arrests of dozens of people under corruption allegations, including opposition party members, in Istanbul and the city of Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued detention orders for 47 people and detained 30. Others detained included local municipal mayors and Istanbul operation is the fifth wave of arrests against the government's political opponents, starting with the jailing of Istanbul's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, regarded as President Tayyip Erdogan's main rival in government has rejected claims of political interference, insisting the judiciary is independent. Imamoglu sent a letter from prison to an opposition rally on Saturday, saying: "It is time to say "enough is enough" to this unjust and unlawful order.""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?" he said in the is part of the Republican People's Party (CHP), who have been leading in many polls against Erdogan's Justice and Development Party. He was jailed over charges of corruption and aiding a terrorist group. He has denied all arrest triggered mass protests and arrests across Turkey. The Istanbul prosecutor's office has said 819 people arrested in protests will be tried in 20 criminal 110 people were arrested in the first four waves of arrests under corruption fifth wave on Saturday consisted of four different operations in two cities. Municipal mayors, CHP party members and city officials were among those Party Assembly member Baki Aydöner wrote on X that he was in Ankara for a party meeting when his wife called and told him that the house was searched and there was a detention order against him. He said he was going to UN's human rights office said in March it was "very concerned" at the mass arrests, with Amnesty International at the time calling the detentions "draconian actions".
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- General
- Al Arabiya
Istanbul mayor's staff targeted by dozens of arrest warrants
Turkish authorities have issued 47 arrest warrants for municipal officials and staff across Istanbul, whose mayor -- the main political rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan -- has been jailed since March, the state news agency Anadolu reported on Saturday. The warrants were based on 'four separate corruption investigations centered on Istanbul,' Anadolu said, without revealing how many people were actually taken into custody. The March 19 arrest and jailing of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu sparked the biggest street protests Turkey had seen in decades. Police had already detained nearly 70 people in subsequent raids linked to alleged corruption at Istanbul City Hall, including Imamoglu's private secretary and his private protection officer. The latest warrants targeted a former opposition lawmaker and five mayors of Istanbul districts, according to Anadolu. The private television station Halk, seen as close to the opposition CHP party that Imamoglu belongs to, said that nine district mayors -- out of a total of 39 -- had now been arrested and were being kept in custody. The CHP, which has nominated Imamoglu as its candidate in presidential elections due in 2028, did not immediately comment on the latest warrants.
