Turkey Arrests Dozens Over Social Media Posts Amid Imamoglu Detention
The detention of Imamoglu has sparked a wave of protests and condemnation, with many seeing it as a move to silence the opposition and consolidate power, and the international community is watching closely as the situation develops, with the EU and other countries calling for respect for democratic principles and the rule of law.
Turkish authorities have arrested dozens of people for posting "provocative" content on social media after the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on charges including corruption and aiding terrorist groups.
The arrest of Imamoglu, who was among 106 people detained, has sparked widespread protests in Istanbul and Ankara, with critics labeling the move a "coup" and planning further demonstrations despite a ban on protests in Istanbul. The interior minister announced that 37 suspects had been caught, with efforts ongoing to apprehend the remaining 224 suspects, as over 18.6 million posts were made online about the arrests.
Imamoglu, a strong challenger to President Erdogan, was to be named the candidate of the main opposition party in the 2028 presidential election. The detention has been widely seen as a politically motivated move, with the CHP leader, Ozgur Ozel, calling it an "attempted coup" aimed at "taking away this nation's freedom to elect" Imamoglu. The move has also been condemned by several European mayors, including Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.
The Turkish lira fell 14.5% against the dollar following the detention, which sparked chaos in the country's financial markets. Hundreds of police were involved in the pre-dawn raid on Imamoglu's home, and social media was briefly blocked. Imamoglu's wife, Dr Dilek Kaya Imamoglu, has vowed to fight the move, saying it was a "targeted political operation aimed at eliminating Turkiye's future president".
As the situation continues to unfold, concerns are growing about the impact on the country's political landscape and the future of the opposition party, with some fearing that more will be brought in for questioning in the coming days.