ISTANBUL (AP) – In a significant escalation of government action against dissent, Turkish authorities have detained several journalists, according to a media workers' union report released on Monday. The crackdown coincides with escalating protests following the imprisonment of Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and a prominent opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
On Sunday, a Turkish court formally charged and arrested Imamoglu, ordering him to be held pending trial on corruption charges. His detention earlier last week triggered the largest demonstrations seen in Turkey in over ten years, raising urgent concerns regarding the state of democracy and the rule of law in the country.
The Disk-Basin-Is union reported that at least eight journalists and photojournalists were arrested in what it characterized as an "assault on press freedoms and the people’s right to know the truth." The union publicly condemned the detentions on X (formerly Twitter), demanding the immediate release of the journalists. However, no immediate response has been provided by the authorities regarding these arrests.
The political landscape surrounding Imamoglu's imprisonment suggests it is part of a broader strategy to eliminate a significant rival to Erdogan ahead of the upcoming presidential elections, currently scheduled for 2028. Government representatives have insisted that Turkey’s judicial system operates independently and have denied allegations of political motives behind Imamoglu’s arrest.
Imamoglu, who has been accused of running a criminal organization, accepting bribes, extorting, illegally recording personal data, and bid-rigging, has denied all charges against him. Although a request for his imprisonment on terror-related charges was dismissed, he still faces prosecution under other allegations. Following his arrest, the Interior Ministry announced the temporary suspension of Imamoglu from his mayoral duties, and an acting mayor has been appointed by the municipality's governing council.
As Imamoglu was taken to Silivri prison, located west of Istanbul, more than 1.7 million members of his Republican People’s Party (CHP) participated in a primary election, endorsing him as their candidate for the presidency. This event occurred alongside a significant "solidarity ballot" that drew millions of non-party voters, indicating widespread support for the mayor.
Alongside Imamoglu, a total of 48 individuals—including a high-ranking aide and two district mayors from Istanbul—have been jailed pending trial. One of the mayors was replaced with a government-appointed official, while 44 others were released under judicial supervision. Imamoglu initially rose to prominence when he was elected as mayor of Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, in March 2019, marking a significant defeat for Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which had maintained control over the city for 25 years. Controversy arose when the AKP sought to annul the 2019 election results, alleging irregularities, leading to a repeat election that Imamoglu also won.
In the subsequent local elections held last year, Imamoglu retained his position, and the CHP made significant gains against Erdogan's ruling party, signaling a growing challenge to the current administration.
