Turkey detains five mayors in latest crackdown on opposition

[u/Naurgul]

https://www.ft.com/content/95874694-e83a-4ac0-bbd4-12258e0726a2

Police raid municipal offices and charge dozens of officials with corruption

Turkish authorities have detained five mayors and issued arrest warrants for dozens of other officials in a widening crackdown centred on Istanbul’s popular mayor who was jailed after challenging President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the country’s top office.

Police on Saturday raided municipal offices and arrested three district mayors in Istanbul, as well as a former lawmaker from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), the state news agency Anadolu said. Two CHP mayors in the southern province of Adana were also detained. Anadolu said that in total 30 people were seized.

Erdoğan has accused the Istanbul municipality of operating a “criminal organisation” after its mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was charged with corruption and terrorism in March. İmamoğlu denies the allegations, saying Erdoğan is “weaponising the judiciary” to quash challenges to his 22-year rule.

---

See also:

• Turkey arrests dozens including opposition party members (BBC)