Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu Arrested in Major Escalation of Turkish Political Crackdown

The opposition leader faces charges of corruption and terrorism as protests erupt and the Turkish economy falters.

Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul's mayor and a leading opposition figure, was arrested on March 19, 2025, accused of corruption and aiding the PKK, a group labeled as terrorist by the Turkish government.
The arrest follows the annulment of Imamoglu’s university degree, potentially disqualifying him from running in the 2028 presidential election under constitutional requirements.
Over 100 associates of Imamoglu, including local officials, were also detained, highlighting a broader crackdown on opposition figures under President Erdogan's administration.
Public protests have broken out despite bans on gatherings, while the Turkish lira has hit record lows and the Istanbul Stock Exchange temporarily halted trading due to economic instability.
The CHP, Turkey's main opposition party, has condemned the arrest as a politically motivated attack on democracy and vowed to challenge the charges in court.