Turkish authorities have ordered the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu amid a corruption probe, days after his university degree was revoked.
Turkish authorities have ordered the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, along with around 100 other individuals, including journalists and business figures, as part of a corruption investigation, according to Turkish media outlet Sabah.
İmamoğlu’s media advisor, Murat Ongun, confirmed on platform “X” that the mayor was being detained, though no official reason was provided. Meanwhile, İmamoğlu himself reported that hundreds of police officers were stationed outside his home, vowing not to surrender to political pressure. Live footage from CNN Türk showed riot police securing the area, while law enforcement searched his residence.
This development comes just a day after Istanbul University annulled İmamoğlu’s degree, citing alleged irregularities. The move has dealt a major blow to the opposition, as İmamoğlu was expected to be named the main presidential candidate for the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in upcoming elections.
Without a university degree, the Istanbul mayor is ineligible to run for president. He has denounced the decision as illegal and vowed to challenge it in court.
“We will take this unlawful decision to court and fight against it,” İmamoğlu declared. “I do not believe in fair rulings.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government denies exerting political influence over the judiciary, insisting that the courts remain independent.
The arrests and the diploma controversy have intensified political tensions in Turkey, with critics viewing these actions as an attempt to eliminate Erdoğan’s strongest challenger ahead of the elections.
