Turkish authorities arrested the key Erdogan Rival, as an opposition accuses the government of political interference

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is facing criticisms of what critics calls the opposition political figures after the police detained his chief Rival, Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, in charge of corruption and terrorism.

The Chief Public Prosecutorial Office Istanbul issued detention orders for İmamoğlu and 106 other prominent political figures. The suspects are alleged that they committed crimes, including acceptance of bribes, embezzlement, plant, aggravated fraud and illegal acquisition of personal data.

İmamoğlu is accused of cooperation with the forbidden Kurdistan Workers’ Party, Kurdish National Group that led the rebellion against Turkey And it is considered the terrorist group of Turkey, the USA and the European Union.

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Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu (Aziz Karimov / Getty Images / File)

Critics remain suspicious in the arrest of a prominent opposition, especially at the time of Erdoğan’s judgment Justice and Development (AKP) The party suffered losses in local elections in the past year.

The arrest “İmamoğlu is not a coincidence. He is the likely candidacy to take care of the presidency for the Presidency,” said Sinan Ciddi, a non-resident higher guy on Turkey on the Democracy Defense Foundation.

People protest on the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in Istanbul 19. March 2025. Years. (AP photo / Francisco Seco)

Ciddi warned that the detention of political opponents is the end point of Turkey as a democracy, claiming that the free and fair elections as well as a peaceful transfer of power more possible.

Turkish officials returned to the charges that the arrest wave was politically motivated.

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A spokesman from the Turkish Embassy in Washington sent Fox News Digital on the statement of the Ministry of Justice.

“Attempting to connect court investigations and cases with our president to say the least, the act of audacity and irresponsibility,” said the Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç.

People protest on the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in Istanbul 19. March 2025. Years. (AP photo / Francisco Seco)

“In our country, separating the authority of the legislative, executive and judicial – is a fundamental principle. The judiciary does not receive orders from anyone,” the statement added.

İmamoğlu thanked global leaders and members European Parliament In the post on XI, he vowed to continue to fight for the democracy of Turkey.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (AP / EMRAH Gurel / File)

İmamoğlu, member of secular POSITION REPUBLIC PUBLIC PARTY (CHP)He was elected mayor of Istanbul in 2019. years and was re-elected in 2023. years. In both elections, Erdoğan won the ACP opponents. It was seen as a probably nominated CHP candidate to face Erdoğan in the next presidential election scheduled for 2028. Or before if the elections are called early.

The authorities were four days for the ban on public demonstrations in an attempt to lift any growing returnee in the arrests. ÖZGÜR ÖZEL, Chap Chair, the main opposition party of Turkey addressed large demonstrations collected in Istanbul and called on mass protests to oppose what the opposition sees as a rough violation of democratic norms.

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In response to the arrest, Istanbul University annulled an İmamoğluin diploma, a move that would throw him from the candidacy for the President, according to the Turkish law, for which the president requires the president to have a university degree. İmamoğlu said the act outside the authority of the University and a worrying sign of political interference in the Academy.

Soner Cagaptay, senior associate in the Washington Institute, that Erdoğan was originally catapulted in political Istanbul 1999. year when he was imprisoned by religious hatred, only to see his popularity and became a purinary leader since 2003. years.