The dictatorship in Turkey has arrested the mayor of Istanbul and the main political rival to the dictator, Erdogan. They don't want to live under a dictatorship any more than Americans want to live under an autocracy.
Ekrem Imamoglu was to be named as the CHP’s candidate for the 2028 presidential race
ANKARA — Turkish authorities on Sunday temporarily suspended Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a potential presidential contender, from his mayoral duties after an Istanbul court formally arrested him early Sunday, pending the outcome of his trial on corruption charges.
The Interior Ministry announced later Sunday that both Imamoglu and two other Istanbul district mayors, Belikduzu Mayor Mahmet Murat Calik and Sisli Mayor Resul Emrah Sahan, who were arrested along with him, had been temporarily suspended from their duties.
Turkish authorities also replaced Sahan following his arrest on terror charges earlier Sunday, the ministry said. Had Imamoglu faced terrorism charges as well, it could have paved the way for a trustee to be appointed to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
Imamoglu was detained over corruption and terrorism-related accusations on Wednesday, sparking mass protests across Turkey as opposition voices deemed the detention a politically motivated move aimed at a key rival of Erdogan. The Turkish government strongly denies the accusation, insisting that the judiciary operates independently.
An Istanbul court formally arrested him early Sunday on corruption charges but ruled that there was no need for an arrest on terrorism accusations.
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Ekrem Imamoglu was to be named as the CHP’s candidate for the 2028 presidential race
ANKARA — Turkish authorities on Sunday temporarily suspended Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a potential presidential contender, from his mayoral duties after an Istanbul court formally arrested him early Sunday, pending the outcome of his trial on corruption charges.
The Interior Ministry announced later Sunday that both Imamoglu and two other Istanbul district mayors, Belikduzu Mayor Mahmet Murat Calik and Sisli Mayor Resul Emrah Sahan, who were arrested along with him, had been temporarily suspended from their duties.
Turkish authorities also replaced Sahan following his arrest on terror charges earlier Sunday, the ministry said. Had Imamoglu faced terrorism charges as well, it could have paved the way for a trustee to be appointed to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
Imamoglu was detained over corruption and terrorism-related accusations on Wednesday, sparking mass protests across Turkey as opposition voices deemed the detention a politically motivated move aimed at a key rival of Erdogan. The Turkish government strongly denies the accusation, insisting that the judiciary operates independently.
An Istanbul court formally arrested him early Sunday on corruption charges but ruled that there was no need for an arrest on terrorism accusations.
2025 Turkish protests - Wikipedia
Turkey suspends Imamoglu’s mayoral duties, keeps him under arrest as more protests expected
The Istanbul mayor was temporarily suspended from his duties after his formal arrest by an Istanbul court on Sunday.
