The Turkish authorities detained the mayor of Istanbul, just a few days before his choice as a presidential candidate.

EKREM Imamoglu, from the Secular Republican People’s Party (CHP), is seen as one of its strongest political competitors in the Turkish president.

The representatives of the prosecution accused him of corruption and assisting a terrorist group, describing him as “a suspect criminal leader.”

The police detained 100 people – including politicians, journalists and other businessmen – as part of the investigation, and the Istanbul Governor’s office imposed four days of restrictions in the city.

“It is not possible to silence people’s will,” said Imamoglu online.

In a video on social media, he said that he was filmed while he was outside his home, and pledged to “stand” for the people of Türkiye “and all who support democracy and justice around the world.

And in a handwritten note Posted on his X After his arrest, he said that the population of Türkiye would respond to “lies, conspiracies and traps” against him.

The protests erupted in the streets of Türkiye and the campus of universities, and in the underground stations, with crowds of government control slogans. It is a general anger that has not been seen for years.

There were reports of clashes between demonstrators and the police in the largest city in Türkiye. Reuters clips show police police using pepper spray kneeling to disperse the crowds outside Istanbul University.

The government has banned the public gatherings in Istanbul as part of the four days of restrictions. But it is expected to urge more protests at the country level, such as opposition leaders, including the wife of Imamoglu, to “raise their votes.”

Several streets in Istanbul were closed in front of traffic, while some metro lines have also canceled their services.

“Netblocks on the Internet said on Wednesday Türkiye was bound to reach To social media such as X, YouTube, Instagram and Tiktok.

The arrest comes as part of a large campaign in the country in recent months, as it has targeted politicians, municipalities, journalists and numbers in the entertainment industry.

In the wake of the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul, fears were expressed about Türkiye’s transformation towards tyranny on social media, as some called for a boycott opposing the upcoming presidential elections, on the pretext that a fair and democratic vote is no longer possible.

Even the IMamoglu Party, and even the Republican People’s Party, condemned the arrests as a “coup against our next president”, a feeling that was widely echoed by the supporters of the supporter.

But the Minister of Justice in Türkiye criticized those who linked Erdogan to arrests.

Yilmaz Tunc said it was “very dangerous and wrong” to suggest that this is a political step, insisting that no one is above the law in Türkiye.

Erdogan and his party also denied these allegations, and they insisted that the judiciary in Türkiye is independent. He was in power for 22 years.

Last year, Imamoglu won a second term The mayor of Istanbul also, when the Al -Shaerbout Party invaded the Republican People’s Party, the local elections there and in Ankara.

This was the first time since Erdogan reached power, defeating his party throughout the country in the ballot box.

The elections were also a personal blow to the president, who grew up and became the mayor of Istanbul as he ascended to power.

Dozens of police officers participated in an early raid at the Imamoglu house in Istanbul.

The CHP presidential candidate, in which IMamoglu is the only person who runs, on Sunday.

The arrest of IMamoglu came a day after Istanbul’s cancellation was canceled due to the alleged violations – a decision, if supported, will prevent him from running in the presidential elections.

According to the Turkish constitution, the presidents must have completed higher education for pregnancy.

Imamoglu described the move as “legal baseless”, adding that universities “must remain independent, free of political intervention and devoted to knowledge.”

The presidential elections are currently scheduled for 2028. Erdogan cannot run for positions again, because in his second term and was previously working as prime minister before that.

The only way Erdogan can compete for other elections is to change the constitution, or to summon early elections before the end of his term.

In addition to accusing him of blackmail and fraud, it is also claimed that IMamoglu has helped the PKK.

The Kurdistan Workers Party – or the Kurdistan Labor Party – has launched a rebellion since 1984, and prohibits it as a terrorist group in Türkiye, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Earlier this month, the group announced its decision To put the weaponAfter a call from its imprisoned leader, who participated in talks with Turkish officials.

The international reaction to detention was negative, as all European, French and German officials condemned the arrests.

European Council statement “It carries all the distinguished features of pressure on a political figure who is considered one of the main candidates in the upcoming presidential elections,” the Imamoglu detention said.

Meanwhile, Lira, Turkey, briefly crashed to the lowest level ever against the US dollar, as the market’s reaction was bad with political uncertainty.

While many of them were shocked to wake up the news of the arrest of Imamoglu, the legal pressure on the leader of the popular opposition is far from new.

He faced multiple investigations and was A political embargo delivered In December 2022 regarding allegations of insulting the electoral council in Türkiye in 2019 – a ruling that appealed it, with the continuation of the final ruling.

In addition, the subject of cases related to the alleged giving violations during his term as a mayor in Beylikduzu in Istanbul.

Recently, on January 20, a new case was filed against him because of his criticism of a public prosecutor.