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3d ago

Turkey Probes CHP Leader and Removes Five Opposition Mayors

The measures signal intensifying political use of judicial powers to remove Erdogan’s main rivals from office.

A person holds a placard during a rally to protest against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, Turkey, March 29, 2025. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
FILE -Ekrem Imamoglu, mayoral candidate for Istanbul of Republican People's Party (CHP) wipes sweat off his forehead during a press conference after the local elections, in Istanbul, March 31, 2019. (AP Photo/File)
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Overview

  • Istanbul prosecutors opened an inquiry into CHP head Ozgur Ozel for allegedly threatening and insulting the city’s chief prosecutor at a public rally.
  • The Interior Ministry suspended the mayors of Avcılar, Büyükçekmece and Gaziosmanpaşa in Istanbul along with Seyhan and Ceyhan in Adana on bribery and extortion charges.
  • Ekrem İmamoğlu has remained jailed since March on corruption allegations he denies as part of a wider campaign against CHP officials.
  • Opposition figures accuse President Erdoğan’s government of weaponizing the judiciary to sideline potential challengers ahead of the 2028 presidential vote.
  • The crackdown has provoked mass demonstrations and drawn warnings from the EU and human rights groups over threats to Turkey’s judicial independence.