Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials in Escalating Opposition Crackdown

Turkish police detained 22 Istanbul municipality employees on Tuesday on corruption charges. In March, police arrested Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and a political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey detains Istanbul officials in escalating opposition crackdown

Corruption charges follow arrest of President Erdoğan’s main political rival Ekrem İmamoğlu in March

After the controversial dismissal of Istanbul's mayor Imamoglu, city officials again fall into the crosshairs of Turkish justice. Criticism of the action does not shrink.

The mobile phone of Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is wanted as missing within the scope of the corruption investigation against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), was seized in an operation carried out at a house.

On March 19, 2025, the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, was arrested. He was chosen by his party, the CHP, as a candidate for the regular presidential elections in 2028 and is considered Erdoğan's main rival. This triggered a major wave of protests in Turkey – especially in Istanbul. The demonstrations led to […] The article "I believe that the protests in Turkey have weakened Erdoğan": Political scientist Küper-Büsch on the mass protests firs…

Swedish journalist freed in Turkey after arrest on ‘terrorism’ charges - Stockholm Center for Freedom

A Swedish journalist arrested in Turkey on terrorism charges as well as insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been released, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced Friday, Agence France-Presse reported. Joakim Medin, a reporter for the Swedish newspaper Dagens ETC, was detained upon arrival in İstanbul on March 27. He had traveled to cover protests sparked by the March 19 detention of İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Erdoğan’s main politi…