Turkey: Istanbul Mayor Arrested, a Leading Opponent of Erdogan

Rome, March 19 (LaPresse) – Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a prominent rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has been arrested as part of an investigation targeting the metropolitan municipality of the Turkish megacity. Local media outlets, including CNN Türk and Hürriyet, report that İmamoğlu was taken to the Istanbul Police Department, and his residence was searched. The operation involves approximately 100 individuals for whom arrest warrants have been issued. In a video posted on X before being taken into custody, İmamoğlu referred to a "great tyranny" and told his supporters, "We are facing great tyranny. But I want you to know that I will not give up." Regarding the charges against him, the Chief Prosecutor, cited by CNN Türk, mentioned "corruption."