Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu Arrested on Corruption and Terrorism Charges
The prominent opposition figure and potential 2028 presidential candidate faces accusations of aiding the PKK and leading a criminal organization, as protests and economic turmoil follow his detention.
- Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul's mayor and a leading opposition figure, was arrested on March 19, 2025, on charges of corruption and aiding the PKK, a group designated as terrorist by Turkey.
- The arrest follows the annulment of Imamoglu's university degree, which could disqualify him from running for president in 2028 under Turkish constitutional requirements.
- The CHP, Turkey's main opposition party, has condemned the arrest as a 'coup against the opposition' and an attempt to block Imamoglu's presidential candidacy.
- Authorities in Istanbul have banned protests, closed Taksim Square, and heightened security, while Imamoglu's supporters have gathered near police facilities demanding his release.
- The arrest has triggered economic instability, with the Turkish lira hitting record lows and trading on the Istanbul Stock Exchange temporarily suspended.
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