Overview

• The judicial campaign accelerated in early July with 157 detentions in Izmir and the arrest of mayors in Manavgat, Adana, Adiyaman and Antalya
• Prosecutors allege charges ranging from corruption and tender rigging to insulting officials and terrorism links but have not filed any indictments
• More than 220 of those detained remain in pre-trial detention or under house arrest, according to Reuters data
• Observers highlight that the probes target only municipalities run by the Republican People’s Party while AKP-led districts face no legal action
• The CHP asserts the measures are politically motivated moves to neutralize Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and other potential challengers ahead of possible early elections