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Turkish police have arrested the mayor of Istanbul Ekrem İmamoğlu, the main political challenger of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after the government’s comprehensive blow over the opposition intensified.
The custody of Cenmamoğlu on Wednesday was part of an investigation into the alleged links of terrorism arising from the support he may have received from a pro-Kurd political group for his campaign for the re-election of the Mayor 2024, said news agency Anadolu.
The Republican Opposition People’s Party (CHP) was decided to appoint Cremamoğlu, one of the country’s most popular political figures, as its presidential candidate in a primary Sunday.
The elections are scheduled for 2028, but the party has said that its candidate’s name should now force parliament to call a premature survey.
The President of the CHP Özgur Özel condemned detention, saying “we are face to face with an attempt for a coup against our future president.”
Turkish lira dropped up to 10 percent to the dollar after detention and the Benchmark Bist 100 Index was reduced almost 7 percent in the early morning trade.
Erdogan, a strong man who has attracted Turkish politics for more than two decades, has directed the nation to an increasingly authoritarian road, especially after he survived a coup 2016.
In recent weeks, his government has begun a blow aimed at politicians from the left and right, journalists, academics – even an astrologer who left election predictions – as Erdogan’s rivals have been hobbied.
Cëmamoğlu, so far the highest profile target, already faces a host of probes, mainly for his political speeches.
“Hundreds of police are in my door,” Classmamoğlu said in a vowel message separated from his office early on Wednesday. “This immoral and tyrannical approach will undoubtedly be overthrown by the will and resistance of our people.”
DikkiMamoğlu, the mayor’s wife, told a television station that the police had arrived at their home as they finished the meal before the dawn during the month of Islamic fasting of Ramadan and that he was taken around 7:30 am. He is being held at the Istanbul Central Police Station, according to news reports.
His detention came along with the issue of arrest warranties for 99 other persons, according to Anadolu. The Istanbul governor, who is appointed by Erdogan, has banned demonstrations throughout Istanbul for four days.
Authorities have also limited access to social media platforms including X, Instagram and YouTube, reported Netblock Global Internet Monitor Netblocks.
The custody of Clamağlu comes a day after Istanbul State University canceled its rank of Higher Education, which would disqualify it from entering the presidential race if it did not fall into the Appeal.
Cëmamoğlu was re -elected last year with a difference of more than 11 percentage points as voters punished Erdogan’s ruling party since 2002, on its management of a long cost of the living crisis.
