ISTANBUL – A Turkish court jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Sunday pending trial on graft charges, state media and other broadcasters reported, in a move expected to fuel the largest protests against President Tayyip Erdogan’s government in over a decade.
Imamoglu, 54, a key political rival to Erdogan, was imprisoned alongside at least 20 others as part of a corruption investigation launched last week. The decision has drawn criticism from the main opposition party, European leaders, and tens of thousands of protesters who see the charges as politically motivated.
The court also released Imamoglu under judicial control measures over a separate terror-related charge, potentially preventing the government from appointing a trustee to manage Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city.
Imamoglu has vehemently denied the charges, calling them “unimaginable accusations and slanders.” Meanwhile, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Turkey’s main opposition against Erdogan’s ruling alliance, held a vote on Sunday to select Imamoglu as its candidate for the next presidential election.
No general election is scheduled until 2028. However, if Erdogan, who has led Turkey for 22 years, seeks another term, parliament would need to approve an early election, as he would have reached the term limit by that date. Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas, also from the CHP, called Imamoglu’s imprisonment “a disgrace for the judicial system.”
The government denies any political motivations behind the investigations, insisting that courts operate independently. Authorities have also warned against protests, especially after extending a nationwide ban on street gatherings for four more days.
On Saturday, thousands gathered outside Istanbul’s municipality building and the main courthouse. Hundreds of police officers used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse protesters, who hurled firecrackers and other objects in response.
Clashes also erupted in the western coastal province of Izmir and the capital Ankara for a third consecutive night, with police deploying water cannons against the crowds. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated early on Sunday that 323 people had been detained during the protests over the investigation.