Turkish police arrested Mayor of Istanbul (a popular opposition leader and a major rival to President Receptacle Erdogan) on Wednesday and several other prominent figures as part of alleged links between corruption and terrorism. The detention of Ekrem Imamogul was a dramatic escalation in cracking down on opposition from Turkish opposition parties.
The state-run Anadoru agency said the prosecutors issued warrants to Imamoguru and around 100 others. Police attacked his residence near dawn and detained the mayor around 7:30am, his wife said. Among those detained were Imamoguru’s close aide, Murat Ongan, and two district mayors.
Critics say Erdogan’s ruling party crackdown in last year’s local elections has followed a major loss amid the increase in requests for early national elections. Government officials argue that the courts are operating independently and that legal action against opposition figures is politically motivated.
“We are facing a great tyranny, but I want you to know that I am not discouraged,” Imamoguru said earlier in the day in a social media video post.
Authorities closed several roads around Istanbul and banned demonstrations in the city for four days in clear efforts to prevent protests after the arrest.
Despite the ban, people gathered at the police headquarters in Istanbul and carried posters of the mayor and banners around their shoulders with photos. Others chanted slogans and raised their fists in the air when riot police were persecuted from the facility.
Thousands of people joined the rally outside the city hall, where mayoral leaders, major opposition Republicans, or CHP accused the government of carrying out a “coup.”
“Let’s say what it is: an attempt at a coup,” Ozgar Ozel told the crowd. “Today, the will of the people are being seized and taken away through a judicial coup targeting the people of Istanbul.”
Justice Minister Irmaz Tance told reporters that the arrests had nothing to do with the government. “It’s presumed and inappropriate at best to link judicially initiated investigations and cases to the President,” he said.
(Source: AP)