Istanbul mayor's imprisonment/DW: Attempt to eliminate a political opponent

Istanbul Mayor and opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ekrem Imamoglu, has been remanded in custody on suspicion of corruption.

According to reports from the state-run Anadolu news agency, based on the request of the Istanbul prosecutor's office, the court decided to keep the 53-year-old in custody until the trial begins. In addition to corruption, the opposition politician is also accused of "terrorist" acts.

CHP politician Imamoglu has rejected the allegations, calling them "unimaginable accusations and slander."

Long interrogation on Saturday

On Saturday morning, Ekrem Imamoglu was questioned by police for five hours on charges of "supporting a terrorist organization." The charge is related to the CHP politician's alleged ties to the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

During police questioning, the opposition politician said that the "immoral and baseless accusations" were aimed at damaging his "reputation" and "credibility." The trial against him has not only damaged Turkey's international reputation, but also the Turkish public's sense of justice and trust in the economy, the 53-year-old added.

After being questioned by police, the mayor was taken to an Istanbul court on Saturday evening for questioning by prosecutors, a municipal spokesman said. The questioning was related to charges of supporting a terrorist organization and corruption.

Attempt to eliminate a political opponent

Critics see Imamoglu's arrest as a government attempt to eliminate a political opponent of President Erdogan and consider the charges trumped up. Imamoglu plans to run in Turkey's 2028 presidential election. His party, the Social Democratic Party (CHP), will announce him as a candidate this Sunday.

However, Ekrem Imamoglu can only be an official presidential candidate if the Turkish Election Commission (YSK), which is considered pro-government, confirms his candidacy. But if the terrorism investigations have not been suspended by the time the commission reviews his candidacy, then his candidacy is unlikely to be accepted.

In addition to the accusations, Ekrem Imamoglu's candidacy is also threatened by another action: on Tuesday, his university degree was revoked. This decision is not yet final. A university degree is a prerequisite for running for president in Turkey.

Protests in many Turkish cities

Protests against Imamoglu's arrest continue. Despite a massive police presence, thousands of people took to the streets of Istanbul on Saturday for the fourth consecutive evening. Police used rubber bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas in clashes during the protests, AFP news agency reports.

Mass protests also took place in the Turkish capital, Ankara, and in the western city of Izmir. In Ankara, police used water cannons to repel demonstrators. In Izmir, Turkey's third-largest city, police blocked a student protest march to the local AKP offices.

According to the Turkish government, hundreds of people were arrested again during the protests. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said 323 people were arrested. "No attempt to endanger public order will be tolerated," the minister said./DW