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Turkish police have arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main political challenger, such as the government’s government preservation.
ImamogluDetention on Wednesday was part of an investigation into alleged links to terrorism stemming from the support he could receive from the pro-Kurdish political group for his 2024 mayoral re-election campaign, the Anadolu State News Agency said.
The opposition Republican People’s Party (PE) was supposed to name Imamoglu, one of the most popular political figures in the country, as his own presidential candidate on Sunday.
The elections are scheduled for 2028, but the party said the appointment of its candidate should now force parliament to call an early poll.
PE Chairman Ozgur Ozel condemned the detention, saying: “We are face to face with an attempt to coup against our next president.”
The Turkish lira fell 10 % against the dollar after the detention, and the benchmark index in the country’s benchmark decreased by almost 7 % in trading early in the morning.
Erdogan, a strong man, who overturned for more than two decades over Turkish politics, ruled the nation on a more authoritarian path, especially after surviving a coup attempt in 2016.
In recent weeks, his government has begun punishing politicians on the left and right, journalists, academics – even an astrologer who has been stuck in electoral predictions – such as Erdogan’s rivals are busy.
ImamogluFar from the highest profile, he is already facing a series of probes, mostly for his political speeches.
“Hundreds of police are at my door,” Immoglu said in a voice message sharing his office early on Wednesday. “This immoral and tyrannical approach will undoubtedly be annulled by the will and elasticity of our people.”
Dilkt ̇mamoğlu, the mayor’s wife, told the television station that police had arrived at their home as they finished the pre-zone meal of Sahur during the Islamic post of Ramadan and that he was taken around 7:30 pm. He was detained at the Istanbul Central Police Station, according to news reports.
His detention came along with the question of arrest warrants for an additional 99 people, according to Anadolu. Istanbul’s governor, appointed by Erdogan, has banned demonstrations through Istanbul for four days.
Authorities have also restricted access to social media platforms, including X, Instagram and YouTube, the Global Internet Monitor Netblocks has announced.
Amamoglu’s detention comes one day after Istanbul State University has canceled his degree of higher educationWhat would disqualify it to enter the presidential race if it is not overturned.
Immoglu was re -elected last year with a margin of more than 11 percentage points, as voters punished Erdogan’s ruling party in power since 2002 for managing the long -term life crisis.
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