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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Ekrem Imamoglu: Istanbul mayor and Erdogan presidential rival arrested | Ekrem Imamoglu: Istanbul mayor and Erdogan presidential rival arrested |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Watch: Istanbul mayor says he's 'facing intimidation' in video message | |
| Turkish authorities have detained the mayor of Istanbul, just days before he was due to be selected as a presidential candidate. | Turkish authorities have detained the mayor of Istanbul, just days before he was due to be selected as a presidential candidate. |
| Ekrem Imamoglu, from the secular Republican People's Party (CHP), is seen as one of Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan's strongest political rivals. | Ekrem Imamoglu, from the secular Republican People's Party (CHP), is seen as one of Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan's strongest political rivals. |
| Prosecutors accused him of corruption and aiding a terrorist group, calling him a "criminal organisation leader suspect". | Prosecutors accused him of corruption and aiding a terrorist group, calling him a "criminal organisation leader suspect". |
| Authorities detained 100 suspects - including other politicians, journalists and businessmen - as part of the investigation, and the Istanbul governor's office has imposed four days of restrictions in the city. | Authorities detained 100 suspects - including other politicians, journalists and businessmen - as part of the investigation, and the Istanbul governor's office has imposed four days of restrictions in the city. |
| Imamoglu said online that "the will of the people cannot be silenced". | Imamoglu said online that "the will of the people cannot be silenced". |
| In a social media video, he vowed to "stand resolute" for the people of Turkey "and all who uphold democracy and justice worldwide". | In a social media video, he vowed to "stand resolute" for the people of Turkey "and all who uphold democracy and justice worldwide". |
| "I stand firm in my fight for the fundamental rights and freedoms," Imamoglu added. | "I stand firm in my fight for the fundamental rights and freedoms," Imamoglu added. |
| The arrest comes as part of a major crackdown on opposition figures nationwide in recent months. | The arrest comes as part of a major crackdown on opposition figures nationwide in recent months. |
| Critics have condemned the moves as politically motivated. But Erdogan - in power for 22 years - and his party have denied the claims, insisting that Turkey's judiciary is independent. | Critics have condemned the moves as politically motivated. But Erdogan - in power for 22 years - and his party have denied the claims, insisting that Turkey's judiciary is independent. |
| Last year, Imamoglu won a second term as Istanbul's mayor, when his CHP party swept local elections there and in Ankara. | Last year, Imamoglu won a second term as Istanbul's mayor, when his CHP party swept local elections there and in Ankara. |
| It was the first time since Erdogan came to power that his party was defeated across the country at the ballot box. | It was the first time since Erdogan came to power that his party was defeated across the country at the ballot box. |
| The elections were also a personal blow to the president, who grew up in and became mayor of Istanbul on his rise to power. | The elections were also a personal blow to the president, who grew up in and became mayor of Istanbul on his rise to power. |
| Dozens of police officers were involved in the early-morning raid on Imamoglu's house in Turkey's largest city. | Dozens of police officers were involved in the early-morning raid on Imamoglu's house in Turkey's largest city. |
| The CHP's presidential candidate selection, in which Imamoglu is the only person running, is set to take place on Sunday. | The CHP's presidential candidate selection, in which Imamoglu is the only person running, is set to take place on Sunday. |
| It came a day after Istanbul University annulled his degree due to alleged irregularities - a decision which, if upheld, would prevent him from running in presidential elections. | |
| Some in Istanbul took to the streets to protest the arrests, despite a four-day ban on demonstrations | Some in Istanbul took to the streets to protest the arrests, despite a four-day ban on demonstrations |
| According to the Turkish constitution, presidents must have completed higher education to hold office. | According to the Turkish constitution, presidents must have completed higher education to hold office. |
| Imamoglu called that move "legally baseless", adding that universities "must remain independent, free from political interference, and dedicated to knowledge". | Imamoglu called that move "legally baseless", adding that universities "must remain independent, free from political interference, and dedicated to knowledge". |
| His CHP party has characterised the recent interventions against him as a "coup attempt" to "prevent the nation from determining the next president". | His CHP party has characterised the recent interventions against him as a "coup attempt" to "prevent the nation from determining the next president". |
| Presidential elections are currently scheduled for 2028. Erdogan cannot currently run for office again, as he is in his second term and previously served as prime minister before that. | |
| The only way Erdogan could contest another election would be to change the constitution, or call an early election before his term ends. | |
| CHP chairman Ozgur Ozel wrote on X that making decisions on behalf of the people, replacing their will, or using force to prevent it, amounted to a coup. | |
| Its deputy chairman, Ilhan Uzgel, accused the government of using the detention as an "instrument to intimidate" Turkey's opposition. | Its deputy chairman, Ilhan Uzgel, accused the government of using the detention as an "instrument to intimidate" Turkey's opposition. |
| He told the BBC his party was "very concerned about the state of democracy in Turkey in general". | He told the BBC his party was "very concerned about the state of democracy in Turkey in general". |
| Pro-government media outlets report that as well as being accused of extortion and fraud, Imamoglu is also alleged to have aided the PKK. | Pro-government media outlets report that as well as being accused of extortion and fraud, Imamoglu is also alleged to have aided the PKK. |
| The PKK - or Kurdistan Workers' Party - has waged an insurgency since 1984, and is proscribed as a terrorist group in Turkey, the EU, UK and US. | The PKK - or Kurdistan Workers' Party - has waged an insurgency since 1984, and is proscribed as a terrorist group in Turkey, the EU, UK and US. |
| Following Wednesday's mass detention, Istanbul's governor ordered a four-day ban on all demonstrations, meetings and press releases in Istanbul, in order to preserve "public order" and stop "possible provocative actions". | Following Wednesday's mass detention, Istanbul's governor ordered a four-day ban on all demonstrations, meetings and press releases in Istanbul, in order to preserve "public order" and stop "possible provocative actions". |
| Many streets in Istanbul have also been closed to traffic, while some metro lines have also cancelled their services. | Many streets in Istanbul have also been closed to traffic, while some metro lines have also cancelled their services. |
| UK-based internet watchdog Netblocks reports that Turkey has severely restricted access to social media sites like X, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok following the arrests. | UK-based internet watchdog Netblocks reports that Turkey has severely restricted access to social media sites like X, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok following the arrests. |
| International reaction to the arrests has been negative. Germany's foreign ministry called them a "serious setback for democracy", adding that the arrest was part of "intensified legal measures" designed to put pressure on Imamoglu. | |
| The Turkish lira, meanwhile, briefly crashed to an all-time low against the US dollar, as markets reacted poorly to the political uncertainty. | |
| This is not the first time Imamoglu has faced legal issues. | This is not the first time Imamoglu has faced legal issues. |
| In 2022, he was sentenced to more than two-and-a-half years in prison for insulting public officials in a speech. | In 2022, he was sentenced to more than two-and-a-half years in prison for insulting public officials in a speech. |