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الوسم: CHP

  • Turkish Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Istanbul’s Jailed Mayor on Espionage Charges

    Turkish Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Istanbul’s Jailed Mayor on Espionage Charges

    A supporter of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) displays a poster featuring a photo of Istanbul’s jailed mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, during a protest near the Justice Palace on October 26, 2025. — Reuters

    A Turkish court has issued another arrest warrant for Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is currently in custody on suspicions of “political espionage,” according to state-run Anadolu news agency on Monday. This move marks an escalation in Turkey’s ongoing crackdown on opposition figures.

    Imamoglu, a prominent rival of President Tayyip Erdogan, has been detained since March as he awaits trial on separate corruption allegations. In July, he was sentenced to additional jail time for insulting and threatening Istanbul’s chief prosecutor.

    He firmly denies all allegations. In a court session on Sunday and through a prison statement on Friday, Imamoglu rejected the latest accusations. “Such slander, lies, and conspiracy wouldn’t even cross the devil’s mind!” he wrote on X. “We are witnessing a shameful act of indecency that defies words.”

    Anadolu reports that an Istanbul court ordered Imamoglu’s arrest overnight along with two others, including Merdan Yanardag, editor-in-chief of the government-critical television channel Tele1. The channel was taken over by the state last Friday amid the espionage claims.

    The newest charges allege Imamoglu engaged in corruption to fund his presidential bid and participated in espionage to garner international support, the agency states.

    Many members and elected officials of Imamoglu’s main opposition, CHP, face numerous corruption-related charges amid what the party describes as a politicized and anti-democratic crackdown. The CHP denies these accusations, asserting they are politically motivated attempts by the government to weaken Erdogan’s electoral challengers. The government denies these claims.

    However, the opposition scored a temporary relief last Friday when another court dismissed attempts to remove CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and nullify the party’s 2023 congress.

  • Turkey Detains Three More Opposition Mayors, Says Party

    Turkey Detains Three More Opposition Mayors, Says Party

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    A protester displays a poster of Istanbul’s imprisoned Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu during a rally where they listened to Ozgur Ozel, the leader of Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), marking the 100th day of his detention at Sarachane Square in Istanbul on July 1, 2025. — AFP

    • Latest arrest adds pressure on the opposition.
    • Ekrem Imamoglu is seen as a significant political adversary for the 2028 election.
    • Police apprehended 137 individuals in a supposed corruption investigation in Izmir this week.

    Turkiye witnessed more tensions as three opposition mayors were detained early Saturday under allegations of corruption, which officials from the CHP labeled a “political maneuver.”

    These recent arrests are part of a broader trend of targeting elected members of the CHP by the government led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, particularly after the CHP secured a notable win against his AKP in the 2024 local elections and is gaining traction in the polls.

    The detentions connect back to an inquiry into corruption that led to the removal of Istanbul’s influential opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, whose imprisonment incited widespread protests—the most significant unrest in Turkiye since 2013.

    Imamoglu stands as Erdogan’s most formidable political foe and is viewed as the CHP’s candidate for the upcoming presidential election in 2028.

    Earlier this week, police arrested 137 people as part of a corruption investigation in Izmir, Turkiye’s third-largest city. They are still on the lookout for others, as a prosecutor’s warrant details 157 individuals.

    The newly detained mayors hail from southern Turkiye: Zeydan Karalar of Adana, Muhittin Bocek from Antalya, and Abdurrahman Tutdere of Adiyaman.

    As he was escorted to a police vehicle, a reporter inquired why Karalar was being taken into custody.

    “Those who possess influence—be it journalists or politicians—are silenced,” he responded.

    “In a system where the law twists and turns based on political needs, and where justice serves one group and neglects another, no one should anticipate trust in the legal system or faith in justice,” stated Mansur Yavas, the opposition mayor of Ankara.

    “We will stand firm against oppression, lawlessness, and political schemes.”

    The pro-Kurdish DEM party, the third-largest group in Turkiye’s parliament, condemned the arrests in no uncertain terms.

    “This persecution of elected leaders must end,” remarked DEM co-president Tulay Hatimogullari.

    “Ignoring the verdicts of the electorate and dismissing the people’s will creates significant divisions,” she added. “These actions are not a remedy; instead, they obstruct the path towards a democratic Turkiye.”

    In recent months, DEM has collaborated with Erdogan’s administration to advance negotiations aimed at resolving the long-standing conflict with the Kurds, culminating in talks in May that resulted in Kurdish PKK militants ceasing their violent struggle, which had claimed nearly 40,000 lives.

    Saturday’s arrests mark yet another round of legal actions against the CHP.

    An Ankara court commenced hearings earlier this week regarding allegations of vote-buying during the CHP’s 2023 leadership election, which could potentially annul the election of CHP’s popular leader, Ozgur Ozel, known for his role in the March protests.

    The Anadolu news agency reported that the mayors from Adana and Adiyaman are tied to a case initiated by the Istanbul public prosecutor’s office surrounding accusations of bribery and contract-fixing.

    Additionally, police took Ahmet Sahin, the deputy mayor of Istanbul’s Buyukcekmece district, into custody as part of the same ongoing investigation, according to the BirGun news outlet.

    The mayor of Antalya is being held on unrelated allegations of bribery, along with his son, as part of a different investigation initiated by the chief public prosecutor of the resort town.

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  • 15M Vote in Opposition Primary After Istanbul Mayor’s Jailing

    15M Vote in Opposition Primary After Istanbul Mayor’s Jailing

    Demonstrators protest the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 20, 2025. — Reuters

    In a powerful demonstration of unity, millions of Turkish citizens participated in a symbolic vote organized by the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) following the arrest of the beloved former Istanbul mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, as reported by AFP.

    What started as a primary to select Imamoglu as the CHP’s presidential candidate transformed into a nationwide expression of defiance.

    “We won’t succumb to hopelessness,” asserted 38-year-old Aslihan, standing in line amidst the widespread protests ignited by Imamoglu’s detention. The CHP made a strategic decision to open the vote to the public, extending participation beyond its 1.7 million members, effectively turning it into an unofficial referendum on the future of the imprisoned leader.

    Istanbul city officials reported that 15 million ballots were cast, with 13.2 million from non-party members. This remarkable turnout led authorities to extend the voting period by three and a half hours across 5,600 polling stations in all 81 provinces.

    “Whenever there’s a formidable challenger to Erdogan, they end up in jail,” expressed Ferhat, 29, reflecting his discontent with the current political atmosphere. “What we have in Turkey is a dictatorship, nothing more. It’s just politics on the surface.”

    Protesters gathered en masse at Istanbul City Hall, the epicenter of the ongoing demonstrations. “We’re here to show our support for our mayor,” said Kadriye Sevim, standing in a tent near the building. Ece Nazoskoc, an 18-year-old student, added, “No authority has the right to treat Turkish youth or the population this way. We will resist this until the very end.”

    In neighborhoods like Kadikoy and Kasimpasa—where President Erdogan grew up—voters turned out in large numbers. Similar scenes unfolded across the country, from Ankara and Diyarbakir to rural Thrace.

    “This is the first significant mobilization since the Gezi protests,” Aslihan noted. “I feel a renewed sense of strength and hope. But I believe this is our last chance.”

  • Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu Jailed by Turkish Court Before Trial

    Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu Jailed by Turkish Court Before Trial

    Here’s a rewritten and unique version of the content you provided in American English:

    Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu addresses his supporters from a bus after giving evidence to judicial officials at Caglayan Courthouse in Istanbul, Turkey, on January 31, 2025. — Reuters

    • Court ruling likely to escalate tensions following four days of protests.
    • Government claims judicial independence, cautions opposition party.
    • Hundreds arrested amidst nationwide demonstrations.

    A Turkish court has ordered the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on graft allegations while he awaits trial, as reported by state media and other news outlets. This development is expected to ignite the largest protests against President Tayyip Erdogan’s government in over a decade.

    The court’s decision to detain Imamoglu, a prominent opponent of Erdogan, came after widespread criticism from the main opposition party, European leaders, and tens of thousands of demonstrators, who labeled the legal actions against him as politically motivated and undemocratic.

    The court announced that Imamoglu, aged 54, along with at least 20 others, has been jailed as part of a corruption probe, one of two launched against him last week.

    Reports from *Halk TV* and *AHaber* indicated that the court also mandated Imamoglu’s release under judicial supervision concerning a separate charge related to terrorism. This may hinder the government’s ability to appoint a trustee to oversee Turkey’s largest city.

    Imamoglu, who is leading in some polls against Erdogan, has firmly denied the allegations, labeling them as “incredible accusations and slanders.”

    On the same day, members of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Erdogan’s main rival, were casting votes to nominate Imamoglu as the party’s candidate for the upcoming presidential elections.

    While general elections are not slated until 2028, if Erdogan, who has been in power for 22 years, intends to run again, the parliament would need to authorize an early election, as he will have reached his term limit by then.

    Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas, also from the CHP, condemned the jailing of Imamoglu as a disgrace to the judicial system.

    The government has denied that the investigations are influenced by political motives, asserting the independence of the judiciary. They have issued warnings against protests, especially in light of a nationwide ban on public gatherings that has been extended for an additional four days since Saturday.

    Over the weekend, thousands gathered outside the Istanbul municipality and the main courthouse, where police deployed tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd, who retaliated by throwing firecrackers and other objects.

    While most of the gatherings have remained peaceful, clashes with law enforcement have erupted in the western coastal province of Izmir and in the capital, Ankara, for the third consecutive night, with police utilizing water cannons against demonstrators.

    According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, authorities have detained 323 individuals during the protests stemming from the investigation.

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