Mayor

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who was detained last month, is widely seen as the biggest challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

İmamoğlu’s arrest and imprisonment have been widely viewed as politically motivated despite Turkey’s government insisting the judiciary is independent and free from political influence.

İmamoğlu’s arrest has been widely viewed as politically motivated and sparked demonstrations in cities across the country, some of which have turned violent.

Prosecutors accuse İmamoğlu of exploiting his position for financial gain, including the improper allocation of government contracts.

The Republican People’s Party, Turkey’s main opposition party, condemned the arrest as politically motivated, with Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu calling it an attempt to sway public opinion.