Wed Mar 19 09:44:03 UTC 2025: ## Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu Arrested, CHP Calls it a “Coup”
**Istanbul, Turkey** – Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure and potential presidential candidate, was arrested Wednesday morning in a sweeping operation targeting alleged corruption and terror links. The arrest, which sparked immediate condemnation from the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), has been described as a “coup” attempt.
Imamoglu, whose election as Istanbul mayor in 2019 was a significant defeat for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party, was detained along with approximately 100 others. Authorities cited a corruption investigation as the reason for the arrest, simultaneously closing roads around Istanbul and banning demonstrations for four days.
The arrest comes just one day after a university in Istanbul revoked Imamoglu’s diploma, rendering him ineligible to run for president in future elections. Imamoglu has vowed to challenge this decision. The CHP was set to hold a primary on Sunday, where Imamoglu was expected to be selected as their presidential candidate. This primary is now highly uncertain.
CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel denounced the arrest as a blatant power grab designed to prevent the electorate from choosing their next president. Al Jazeera reported that several journalists and business figures were also among those detained. While government officials maintain the independence of the judiciary, the timing of the arrest, coupled with the prior diploma invalidation, fuels accusations of politically motivated actions against opposition figures.
Imamoglu, in a video message before his arrest, accused the government of “usurping the will of the people” and vowed not to be discouraged. The next Turkish presidential election is scheduled for 2028, although early elections are possible. The implications of Imamoglu’s arrest for the political landscape remain to be seen.
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