Turkish authorities have detained 37 individuals for sharing "provocative" content on social media, according to statements from the interior minister. This move is part of a broader crackdown on dissenting voices that has intensified following the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and a potential challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Imamoglu was arrested on Wednesday morning during a raid at his residence, amid investigations into allegations of corruption and connections to terrorist organizations. The crackdown has not only targeted Imamoglu but has also resulted in the detention of several other prominent figures, including two district mayors. This situation has raised significant concerns regarding democracy in Turkey and has spurred protests in Istanbul and other locations, even with a four-day ban on demonstrations in effect.
The reaction to Imamoglu's detention has been particularly pronounced in financial markets, leading to temporary halts in trading to mitigate panic selling. Critics of the Erdogan administration view these actions as part of an effort to maintain power following significant electoral losses faced by the ruling party in the previous year's local elections. Government representatives deny that the legal actions against opposition figures are politically charged, asserting that the judiciary operates independently.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya revealed that authorities identified 261 social media accounts that disseminated provocative posts inciting public hatred or crime, with 62 of these accounts linked to individuals based outside Turkey. The operation, carried out by police and cyber crime units, has resulted in the detention of at least 37 individuals, with efforts to apprehend additional suspects ongoing.
Imamoglu's arrest came just days before he was anticipated to be nominated as the opposition Republican People’s Party's candidate in an upcoming primary scheduled for Sunday. Nevertheless, the party's leader has indicated that the primary will proceed as planned. Prosecutors have accused Imamoglu of misusing his position for personal financial gain, particularly related to the improper allocation of government contracts.
In a separate line of investigation, Imamoglu is also accused of providing assistance to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has been classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and other allies. The allegations suggest that Imamoglu formed a collaboration with a Kurdish umbrella organization during the Istanbul municipal elections. It remains to be seen when authorities will initiate questioning of Imamoglu, who can be detained without charges for up to four days.
Analysts suggest that if Imamoglu is formally charged with links to the PKK, there is a possibility of him being removed from his position and replaced by a "trustee mayor." Prior to his detention, Imamoglu was already facing multiple criminal cases that could potentially result in prison sentences, along with a political ban. He is currently appealing a 2022 conviction for allegedly insulting members of Turkey's Supreme Electoral Council, which could also prevent him from holding political office.
In a recent development, a university has nullified Imamoglu's diploma, citing irregularities in his transfer from a private university in Northern Cyprus in 1990. This decision poses a significant barrier to his political future, as candidates for the presidency must possess university degrees. Imamoglu was initially elected as the mayor of Istanbul in March 2019, marking a historic defeat for Erdogan’s party, which had held control over the city for 25 years. Following a contested election process and allegations of irregularities, Imamoglu won a repeat election as well as maintained his seat during local elections last year, where his party made gains against the ruling administration.
