Turkey jails mayor of capital city as unrest continues

A Turkish courtroom on Sunday jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan’s primary political rival, pending trial on corruption fees, in a transfer prone to inflame the nation’s largest protests in additional than a decade.

The choice to ship Imamoglu to jail comes after the primary opposition occasion, European leaders and tens of hundreds of protesters criticized the actions in opposition to him as politicized and undemocratic.

Because the courtroom developments unfolded, there have been indicators that the mayor’s troubles have been galvanizing opposition in opposition to Erdogan’s authorities, which has run Turkey for 22 years.

Hundreds of Republican Individuals’s Occasion (CHP) members and non-members streamed into polling stations nationwide to elect Imamoglu its candidate in a future presidential vote.

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The non-member vote might be intently watched as an indicator of how a lot assist the extensively fashionable Imamoglu enjoys past the occasion devoted.

Imamoglu has denied the fees he faces as “unimaginable accusations and slanders” and known as for nationwide protests on Sunday. “We are going to rip away this coup, this darkish stain on our democracy, all collectively,” he mentioned.

Footage confirmed what broadcasters mentioned was him being taken to Silivri jail in a police convoy.

Imamoglu was faraway from obligation, together with two different district mayors, an inside ministry assertion mentioned.

A protestor holds a placard that reads ”From excessive colleges to the streets”, in entrance of law enforcement officials, throughout a protest on the day Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was jailed as a part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, Turkey, March 23, 2025. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (REUTERS/Umit Bektas)

The federal government denies that investigations are politically motivated and says courts are unbiased.

A nationwide ban on road gatherings was prolonged on Saturday for 4 extra days however protests and skirmishes with police continued via the evening in main cities.

Hundreds crowded exterior the courthouse in a single day and early on Sunday awaiting the rulings on Imamoglu.

The courtroom mentioned Imamoglu, 54, and a minimum of 20 others have been jailed as a part of a corruption investigation, certainly one of two opened in opposition to him final week.

It mentioned he was arrested for “establishing and main a prison group, accepting bribes, embezzlement, unlawfully recording private information, and rigging public tenders in reference to a monetary investigation”.

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The jailing caps a months-long authorized crackdown on opposition figures and the removing of different elected officers from workplace, in what critics known as a authorities try to harm their election prospects.

Six of the CHP’s 27 municipal mayors are actually underneath arrest – a yr after opposition events handed Erdogan’s AK Occasion its worst ever electoral defeat in municipal elections.

The CHP opened occasion polling stations Sunday to non-members to solid “solidarity votes” for Imamoglu, who was the one identify on the poll for presidential candidate.

A demonstrator carrying dervish garments, lies on the bottom, throughout a protest on the day Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was jailed as a part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, Turkey, March 23, 2025. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis (REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis)

CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel predicted tens of millions of votes from non-members, saying Imamoglu is “on the highway to jail but in addition to the presidency”.

No common election is scheduled till 2028.

But when Erdogan, 71, who has led Turkey for 22 years, is to run once more, parliament would want to again an earlier election because the president may have reached his restrict by that date. Imamoglu is main Erdogan in some opinion polls.

Imamoglu can also be going through terrorism fees, however the courtroom didn’t formally arrest him on these on the similar time.

A future ruling to jail him pending trial on terrorism-related fees might enable the federal government to nominate a trustee to run Istanbul. A conviction might stop him operating for president.

The CHP mentioned it might attraction in opposition to the ruling and elect somebody to work as performing mayor.

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Shortly after the courtroom ruling, the mayor vowed to finally defeat Erdogan, and mentioned those that ran the investigation could be held accountable.

“Imamoglu has turn out to be Erdogan’s … nightmare,” Mehmet Karatas, an opposition supporter, mentioned exterior the courthouse. “We are going to make Ekrem Imamoglu president.”

Imamoglu’s detention has roiled markets, with the Turkish lira, shares and bonds struggling heavy declines since Wednesday. Analysts anticipate extra promoting stress after the jailing.

Turkish central financial institution governor Fatih Karahan met board members of Turkey’s Banks Affiliation (TBB) on Sunday.

Cops use pepper spray on demonstrators throughout a protest on the day Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was jailed as a part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, Turkey, March 23, 2025. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis (REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis)

The central financial institution will use all devices inside market guidelines successfully and decisively to keep up stability, Karahan instructed bankers, the TBB mentioned.

Civil disobedience has been dramatically curbed in Turkey since nationwide Gezi Park protests in opposition to Erdogan’s authorities in 2013, which prompted a violent state crackdown.

But hundreds gathered once more Saturday evening exterior the Istanbul municipality constructing and the primary courthouse. A whole bunch of police used tear gasoline and pepper spray to disperse protesters, as the gang hurled firecrackers and different objects.

Although most demonstrations have been peaceable, protesters additionally clashed with police within the western coastal province of Izmir and the capital Ankara for a 3rd evening in a row, with police firing water cannon.

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Authorities have detained greater than 300 individuals throughout protests.

Extra reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever, Mert Ozkan and Mehmet Emin Caliskan; Writing by Jonathan Spicer; Enhancing by Daniel Wallis, William Mallard, David Goodman, Alison Williams and Giles Elgood