Turkey’s political landscape has taken a dramatic turn with the arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, a key opposition figure against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Key Developments:

* On Sunday, March 23, 2025, a court formally arrested Imamoglu, ordering his detention while awaiting trial on corruption charges. His arrest followed a raid on his residence earlier in the week.

* The charges include bribery, forming a criminal organization, and rigging public contracts. An initial accusation of aiding terrorism was dropped at this stage.

* Following his arrest, Imamoglu was temporarily suspended from office and transferred to Silivri Maximum Security Prison. The mayor of Beylikduzu, Murat Calik, was also suspended as part of the same investigation. Meanwhile, the governor of Sisli has replaced the district’s arrested mayor.

* The arrest sparked Turkey’s largest wave of protests in over a decade, with tens of thousands taking to the streets despite government bans. Clashes erupted between demonstrators and security forces, which used tear gas and water cannons. Hundreds were detained, and authorities moved to restrict over 700 opposition accounts on X (formerly Twitter).

* On the day of Imamoglu’s arrest, the Turkish stock market and lira plummeted, adding economic concerns to the country’s growing political and social unrest. The Turkish Central Bank held an emergency meeting to assess intervention measures.

Imamoglu: Erdogan’s Main Rival

Ekrem Imamoglu is seen as President Erdogan’s strongest political challenger. His rise to prominence came in 2019 when he won Istanbul’s mayoral race, defeating the ruling AKP and ending its two-decade control of the city. Even after the election was annulled and re-run, he won again, solidifying his political clout. Polls suggested he could secure 52–58% of the vote in a potential presidential race.

Opposition Primaries and Public Backlash

Despite his arrest, the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) proceeded with its primary election, where Imamoglu was the sole candidate. The vote became a symbolic show of support, drawing around 15 million participants, including 13 million non-party members who cast their votes in solidarity.

In statements relayed through his lawyers and on social media, Imamoglu declared:

“I will never bow down.”

He denounced his prosecution as a “trial without justice” and urged the nation to stand up for its rights.

CHP leader Ozgur Ozel condemned the arrest as a “civilian coup”, while Ankara’s Mayor Mansur Yavas called it “a disgrace to Turkey’s judicial system.”

International Reactions

Imamoglu’s arrest has raised global concerns over democracy and the rule of law in Turkey.

* The European Commission warned that the case raises serious questions about Turkey’s democratic standards, reminding Ankara of its obligations as a Council of Europe member and EU candidate country.

* Germany strongly criticized the move, calling it a “major blow to Turkish democracy” and stressing that elections should not be influenced by the judiciary or imprisonment of political rivals.

* The Council of Europe demanded Imamoglu’s immediate release, calling the arrest a “calculated move to undermine free and fair elections” and “an attack on democracy itself.”

The situation in Turkey remains highly volatile. We will continue monitoring developments and provide you with the latest updates.