President Erdoğan’s main rival in presidential election Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu detained in Istanbul

ISTANBUL — Citing a statement from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, The state-run Anadolu Agency reported that arrest warrants were issued for 100 suspects, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, over allegations of various crimes. Many of the arrest warrants are for members of the opposition Republican People’s Party (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi, CHP).

Anadolu Agency added that among the charges was allegedly aiding the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê, PKK).

The mayor of Istanbul’s Şişli district, also a member of CHP, was likewise detained.

The statement accused İmamoğlu of being the leader of a criminal organization, as well as charges of bribery, conditional fraud and unlawfully obtaining personal data.

İmamoğlu stated in a post that he would stand against the decision.

İstanbul Üniversitesi Yönetim Kurulu’nun kararı HUKUKSUZDUR.

Böyle bir karar alma yetkileri yoktur. Yetki, sadece İşletme Fakültesi Yönetim Kurulu’ndadır. Bu kararı alanların tarih ve adalet önünde hesap verecekleri günler yakındır. Adalete, hukuka ve demokrasiye susamış…

— Ekrem İmamoğlu (@ekrem_imamoglu) March 18, 2025

Peoples’ Equality and Democratic Party (Halkların Eşitlik ve Demokrasi Partisi, DEM Party) condemned İmamoğlu’s detention, describing it as an attack on democracy and will of the people.

The DEM Party demanded the immediate release of all detainees.

İmamoğlu’s potential presidential candidacy suffered a setback after his university degree was revoked over alleged irregularities, which could prevent him from running in the 2028 elections.