Turkish police arrest to the mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival of Erdogan

Istanbul (AP) – Turkish police arrested on Wednesday the mayor of Estanbul, a key rival of the president Recep Tayyip Erdogan – As part of an investigation into alleged links of corruption and terrorism, the media reported.

The Anadolu state agency said prosecutors issued arrest orders for another 100 people. The authorities closed several roads around Istanbul and banned demonstrations in the city for four days in an apparent effort to avoid protests after arrest.

The arrest occurred after a search for the house of Ekrem Imamoglu, a day later A university invalidated its diplomaeffectively disqualifying the popular figure of the opposition to run in the next presidential race. Having a university degree is a requirement to run in elections under Turkish law.

The mayor’s party, the main Republican Popular Party of the opposition, is to celebrate a primary on Sunday where Imamoglu was elected to his candidate in future presidential elections. The next presidential vote of Türkiye is scheduled for 2028, but it is likely that the early elections.

“We face great tyranny, but I want you to know that I will not be discouraged,” Imamoglu said in a video message posted on social networks. He accused the government of “usurping the will” of the people.

When annulling the Imamoglu Diploma, the University of Istanbul cited alleged irregularities in its 1990 transfer of a private university in northern Cyprus to its faculty of business administration. Imamoglu said it would challenge the decision.

The opposition leader faces multiple demands, including accusations of trying to influence a judicial expert investigating municipalities led by the opposition. Cases could result in prison sentences and a political prohibition.

Imamoglu is also appealing a 2022 sentence for insulting the members of the Supreme Electoral Council of Türkiye, a case that could result in a political prohibition.

He was elected mayor of the largest city in Turkey in March 2019 in a historic coup for Erdogan and the President’s Justice and Development Party, which had controlled Istanbul for a quarter of a century. The party pressed to cancel the results of the municipal elections in the city of 16 million, alleging irregularities.

The challenge resulted in a repetition of the elections a few months later, which Imamogl also won. The mayor held his seat after the local elections last year, during which his party obtained significant profits against the Rector of Erdogan.

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Fraser reported from Ankara, Türkiye.