Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has vowed to stand firm after a court ordered his arrest in an ongoing corruption investigation, a move that has sparked widespread protests across Turkey.
“We will, hand in hand, uproot this blow, this black stain on our democracy … I am standing tall, I will not bow down,” İmamoğlu said on X, responding to the court’s decision.
The mayor, a key opposition figure, is among 100 people facing corruption-related charges. He is also under investigation for alleged “terror-related” activities, with a separate court ruling expected soon. Despite prosecutors arguing he had strong ties to an armed terrorist organization, the court ruled that his detention for financial crimes was sufficient for now.
İmamoğlu has dismissed all allegations as politically motivated, calling them “unimaginable accusations and slanders.”
Nationwide Protests and Clashes with Police
The ruling has ignited Turkey’s largest unrest in over a decade, with thousands gathering outside the Istanbul municipality building and the main courthouse. Demonstrators also took to the streets in Izmir and Ankara, facing tear gas, pepper spray, and water cannons as they clashed with police.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that 323 people had been detained in connection with the protests, vowing that “no attempt to harm public order will be allowed.”
International Response and Protests in Ireland
Supporters of İmamoğlu have also organized protests abroad, with daily demonstrations taking place on Dublin’s O’Connell Street. The Democratic Türkiye Community in Ireland condemned the mayor’s arrest, calling it a “political coup” and accusing Turkish authorities of turning the country into an “open-air prison.”
The Turkish government, however, denies any political interference in the case, insisting that the judiciary operates independently.
Political Ramifications and Erdogan’s Future
İmamoğlu, 54, is widely regarded as a leading challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and was expected to be named the opposition CHP’s presidential candidate in the coming days.
With Turkey’s next election set for 2028, Erdoğan faces a constitutional dilemma as he reaches his two-term limit. If he wishes to run again, he must either call an early election or push for constitutional changes.
The president, who has led Turkey for more than two decades, accused the opposition of trying to “provoke” the nation and warned that authorities would not tolerate “vandalism.”
The court’s decision, along with ongoing protests, sets the stage for a tense political battle that could shape Turkey’s future leadership.
