EU condemns İmamoğlu arrest, calls for Turkey to uphold democratic standards

ISTANBUL — The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, along with other European officials, issued a joint statement expressing concern over the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. The statement criticized the charges against İmamoğlu, viewing them as part of a broader crackdown on elected politicians, activists, journalists, businesspeople, and civilians opposing the Turkish government’s policies.

The EU called on Turkish authorities to respect human rights and the Turkish constitution, emphasizing that, as a Council of Europe member, Turkey is obligated to uphold democratic standards. The statement also warned that Turkey must adhere to legal principles and norms if it seeks to maintain its relationship with the EU.

Emma Sinclair-Webb, the head of Human Rights Watch (HRW), strongly condemned the arrests and demanded the immediate release of all detainees. She accused the Turkish government of attempting to weaken opposition parties and stifle dissent.

Following İmamoğlu’s detention, Turkish police conducted raids on media outlets, shutting down several organizations amid widespread local and international support for the mayor. The crackdown has drawn sharp criticism from political parties and civil society.

In response, members of the opposition Republican People’s Party (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi, CHP) and the Peoples’ Equality and Democratic Party (Halkların Eşitlik ve Demokrasi Partisi, DEM Party) protested in the Turkish parliament. Lawmakers called İmamoğlu’s arrest a “dark day in Turkey’s history,” leading to a 20-minute parliamentary recess announced by the deputy speaker.

Meral Danış-Beştaş, spokesperson for the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (Halkların Demokratik Kongresi, HDK), condemned the events, describing them as a coup against democracy and the newly elected Turkish president. She declared that “peace and a coup cannot coexist,” urging immediate action to restore democratic principles.

Tens of thousands of people also took to the streets of Istanbul over the arrest, chanting slogans such as “Erdoğan is a dictator” and “End this authoritarian rule immediately.”