Arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu
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|
.png?lang=en) Ekrem İmamoğlu in 2018 | |
| Date | March 19, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Location | Istanbul Turkey |
| Cause | Alleged; corruption and terrorism |
| Participants | Turkish Police |
| Outcome | 2025 Turkish anti-government protests and Economic crisis |
| Arrests | Ekrem İmamoğlu |
On 19 March 2025, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested by Turkish Police for alleged corruption and supporting terrorism (PKK) along with more than 100 people.[1][2]
Background
On 18 March 2025, Istanbul University annulled İmamoğlu's degree, citing irregularities, which blocks him from running for president. The decision came just days before the opposition was set to nominate him as he was dismissed.[3]
Arrest
On the morning of March 19, 2025, Turkish police surrounded İmamoğlu's residence in Istanbul. In a video posted to Twitter at approximately 7:00 a.m. local time, İmamoğlu told to the public as he prepared for the day, tweeted "We are facing great oppression, but I will not give up. I entrust myself to my nation." Shortly thereafter, he was detained along with over 100 others, including his aide Murat Ongun, two Istanbul district mayors from the CHP, and several journalists and business figures.[4]
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office accused İmamoğlu of being the "leader of a criminal organization," alleging corruption, extortion, bribery, and money laundering tied to municipal contracts. Prosecutors also charged him with aiding the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), by forming an electoral alliance with the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Freedom and Democracy Party (DEM Party) during the 2024 municipal elections. The government claimed this "city consensus" increased the PKK's influence in urban areas. İmamoğlu and his supporters rejected the charges as fabricated, asserting they were designed to eliminate him as a political threat to Erdoğan.[1]
They also imposed a four-day ban on public demonstrations in Istanbul, closed major roads, and restricted access to social media platforms such as Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram, according to internet watchdog Netblocks. İmamoğlu was taken to the Vatan Security Department in Istanbul, where he remained in custody pending further legal proceedings.[2]
Aftermath
Economic crisis
The detention of Ekrem İmamoğlu on March 19, 2025, led to significant fluctuations in the Turkish economy. This development was interpreted by the markets as an increase in political uncertainty, and negative reflections were observed in economic indicators. The Turkish lira lost up to 14.5% of its value against the US dollar. The BIST 100 index fell by 8.72%, declining from its previous day's closing level of 10,802 points to 9,860 points. Turkey's 2045-maturity dollar-denominated government bond lost 1.6 cents in value, dropping to 80.9 cents.[5] In response to value loss, central bank sold nearly $10 billion in foreign currency.[6]
Following the events, JPMorgan raised its year-end inflation forecast for Turkey from 27.2% to 29.5%. It also increased its March inflation estimate from 2.3% to 3.2%. Revising its expectation of a 250-basis-point monthly cut by the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT), JPMorgan predicted that the CBRT would cut interest rates by 150 basis points at each meeting starting in April and raised its year-end interest rate forecast from 30% to 35%. Additionally, it emphasized that the CBRT is expected to use its reserves to address any dollarization issues among residents.[citation needed]
Turkey’s Minister of Treasury and Finance, Mehmet Şimşek, stated, “Everything necessary is being done to ensure the healthy functioning of the markets. The economic program we are implementing continues resolutely.”[7]
Reactions
The detention of Ekrem İmamoğlu caused a major stir in Turkey. The Republican People's Party (CHP) described the situation as a "political coup," stating that it was an intervention against the will of the people. CHP Chairman Özgür Özel declared their full support for İmamoğlu, while İYİ Party leader Müsavat Dervişoğlu argued that the detention was not legally justified but rather a completely political operation. The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party viewed it as an attempt to suppress the opposition. Zafer Party leader Ümit Özdağ emphasized the rule of law, stating that the process should be transparent. The Democrat Party and the Felicity Party (Saadet Party) also issued statements of support for İmamoğlu. While employees of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality organized workplace protests, citizens in several cities, particularly in Istanbul and Ankara, took to the streets to protest the detention decision. Additionally, protests were held at several universities, including Istanbul University.
On the international stage, the detention of İmamoğlu drew strong reactions. The Council of Europe condemned the situation as an intervention against the will of the people. The German Foreign Ministry stated that the democratic process in Turkey had been harmed and announced that they would discuss the matter with Turkish officials. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed "deep concern" over the developments and warned that the incident could have serious consequences for Turkish democracy. Nacho Sanchez Amor, the European Parliament's rapporteur on Turkey, called the process concerning and said they were closely monitoring the situation. Human Rights Watch condemned the detentions, asserting that they were part of a politically motivated crackdown aimed at obstructing opposition activities. The Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, sent a message of support to İmamoğlu, stating, "Ekrem, my friend, we stand with you." These reactions indicate that the incident has triggered a serious crisis both in Turkey and internationally.
Domestic
- CHP Chairman Özgür Özel described İmamoğlu's detention as a "coup" and referred to İmamoğlu as "[...] our next president."[8]
- Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş (CHP) stated, "Such actions against an elected mayor are absolutely unacceptable."[8] He had previously declared, "If İmamoğlu's candidacy is suspended, I will suspend mine as well."[9]
- Future Party Chairman and former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu criticized the situation, stating, "It is the greatest disgrace and scandal for Turkey that diploma wars are being fought to reach the highest office of the state, the Presidency."[8]
- İYİ Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu opposed the incident, arguing that the opposition should boycott the elections, calling the situation a "civilian coup."[10]
- New Welfare Party (Yeniden Refah) Chairman Fatih Erbakan stated, "Tampering with Turkey's foundations, shaking the justice system—the basis of the state—and undermining the economy's need for stability and trust benefits no one."[11]
International
- The Council of Europe strongly condemned İmamoğlu's detention as "an action against the will of the people." The council announced that the issue would be discussed at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities meeting on March 24.[12]
- European Parliament's Rapporteur of Turkey Nacho Sanchez Amor expressed concern over the detention of İmamoğlu and 100 others, as well as the four-day protest ban, stating that they were closely monitoring the situation.[citation needed]
- Human Rights Watch Director of Turkey Emma Sinclair-Webb condemned the detentions, stating that they were part of a "series of politically motivated investigations aimed at obstructing opposition activities."[12]
See also
- Trial of Ekrem İmamoğlu (2022)
References
- ^ a b Guzel, Mehmet; Fraser, Suzan (19 March 2025). "Police arrest Istanbul mayor, a key Erdogan rival, over alleged corruption and terror links". AP News. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ a b Toksabay, Ece; Erkoyun, Ezgi (19 March 2025). "Turkey detains Erdogan's main rival in what opposition calls 'coup'". Reuters. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ "Turkish university annuls Erdogan rival's degree, preventing run for president". Reuters. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ "Ekrem İmamoğlu gözaltına alındı, tepkiler ne oldu?". BBC News Türkçe (in Turkish). 19 March 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ "Turkish markets slide after Erdogan rival detained". Reuters. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ Devranoglu, Nevzat (19 March 2025). "Turkish cenbank sells record amount of FX after lira plunges, bankers say". Reuters. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
- ^ "SON DAKİKA HABERLERİ: Bakan Şimşek'ten piyasalara ilişkin açıklama". Milliyet (in Turkish). 19 March 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ a b c "Ekrem İmamoğlu'nun gözaltına alınmasına tepkiler". Gazete Oksijen (in Turkish). 19 March 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ "Ekrem İmamoğlu'nun Diploma İptali Sonrası Mansur Yavaş'tan da Tepki Geldi: "Adaylığımı Askıya Alıyorum"". Onedio (in Turkish). 19 March 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ "Dervişoğlu'ndan boykot çağrısı". Diken (in Turkish). 19 March 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ "İmamoğlu'na gözaltı... Fatih Erbakan: "Devletin temeli olan adaleti sarsmanın kimseye faydası yoktur"". Anka Haber (in Turkish). 19 March 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Dünya'da tepkiler büyüyor: Avrupa Konseyi, İmamoğlu için toplanacak". Sözcü (in Turkish). 19 March 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.