Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent political rival of President Tayyip Erdogan, was jailed by a Turkish court on Sunday pending trial on corruption allegations. This action is anticipated to spark widespread protests across the country, potentially the largest in over a decade.
The decision to imprison Imamoglu follows criticism from the main opposition party and tens of thousands of demonstrators who view the actions against him as politically motivated and undemocratic.
The developments in the courtroom suggest that the mayor’s situation is unifying opposition against Erdogan’s administration, which has governed Turkey for 22 years.
Thousands of members and non-members of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) flocked to polling stations nationwide to vote for Imamoglu as their candidate in a future presidential election.
The non-member vote will be closely monitored as an indicator of Imamoglu’s popularity beyond the party’s base.
Imamoglu has refuted the charges, labeling them “unimaginable accusations and slanders,” and has called for nationwide protests. “Together, we will tear away this coup, this dark stain on our democracy,” he stated.
Broadcasters showed footage of what they reported was him being transported to Silivri prison in a police convoy.
An interior ministry statement announced Imamoglu’s removal from office, along with two other district mayors.
The government denies any political motivation behind the investigations, asserting the independence of the courts.
A nationwide ban on street gatherings, extended on Saturday for four more days, did not stop protests , which continued through the night in major cities.
Thousands gathered outside the courthouse overnight and into Sunday morning, awaiting the rulings on Imamoglu.
The court stated that Imamoglu, 54, and at least 20 others were jailed as part of a corruption investigation, one of two initiated against him last week.
The charges included “establishing and leading a criminal organization, accepting bribes, embezzlement, unlawfully recording personal data, and rigging public tenders in connection with a financial investigation”.
The jailing follows a months-long legal crackdown on opposition figures and the removal of other elected officials, actions critics deem an attempt by the government to undermine their election prospects.
Currently, six of the CHP’s 27 municipal mayors are under arrest, a year after opposition parties inflicted Erdogan’s AK Party’s worst electoral defeat in municipal elections.
The CHP opened party polling stations on Sunday to allow non-members to cast “solidarity votes” for Imamoglu, who was the only name on the ballot for presidential candidate.
CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel predicted millions of votes from non-members, stating that Imamoglu is “on the road to prison but also to the presidency”.
No general election is scheduled until 2028.
However, if Erdogan, 71, is to run again, parliament would need to approve an earlier election, as he will have reached his term limit by that date. Opinion polls indicate Imamoglu is ahead of Erdogan in popularity.
Imamoglu also faces terrorism charges, though the court did not formally arrest him on those at the same time.
A future ruling to jail him pending trial on terrorism-related charges could enable the government to appoint a trustee to administer Istanbul. A conviction could prevent him from running for president.
The CHP announced it would appeal the ruling and elect an acting mayor.
Shortly after the court’s decision, the mayor pledged to ultimately defeat Erdogan and vowed that those who conducted the investigation would be held accountable.
“Imamoglu has become Erdogan’s … nightmare,” said Mehmet Karatas, an opposition supporter, outside the courthouse. “We will make Ekrem Imamoglu president.”
Imamoglu’s detention has unsettled markets, with the Turkish lira, stocks, and bonds experiencing significant declines since Wednesday. Analysts anticipate further selling pressure following the jailing.
Turkish central bank governor Fatih Karahan met with board members of Turkey’s Banks Association (TBB) on Sunday.
Karahan assured bankers that the central bank would use all instruments within market rules effectively and decisively to maintain stability, according to the TBB.
Civil disobedience in Turkey has been significantly reduced since the Gezi Park protests against Erdogan’s government in 2013, which prompted a .
Nevertheless, thousands gathered again Saturday night outside the Istanbul municipality building and the main courthouse. Hundreds of police deployed tear gas and pepper spray to disperse protesters, who responded by throwing firecrackers and other objects.
While most demonstrations have been peaceful, protesters also clashed with police in the western coastal province of Izmir and the capital Ankara for a third consecutive night, with police using water cannon.
Authorities have detained over 300 people during the protests.
Additional reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever, Mert Ozkan and Mehmet Emin Caliskan; Writing by Jonathan Spicer; Editing by Daniel Wallis, William Mallard, David Goodman, Alison Williams and Giles Elgood
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