Who Is Ekrem Imamoglu? Erdogan Rival Mayor Whose Arrest Has Triggered Massive Anti-Govt Protests Across Türkiye

<p>T&uuml;rkiye has been facing one of its most politically volatile moments in over a decade since the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the most prominent rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, last week on multiple graft charges. A court sent him to jail on Sunday. The arrest, widely condemned by opposition leaders, European officials, and tens of thousands of protesters, threatens to ignite mass demonstrations reminiscent of the 2013 Gezi Park protests, media reports said.</p>
<p>”I stand tall and will keep my head high. Fear cannot stop the inevitable!” Imamoglu posted on X. “I call on all 86 million of my fellow citizens to head to the ballot boxes and show the world our fight for democracy and justice.”</p>
<p>Imamoglu, 54, was taken into custody on March 19 and officially jailed pending trial four days later, accused of leading a “criminal organisation”, embezzlement, bribery, illegal data collection, and rigging public tenders, a Reuters report said, quoting court documents. The Istanbul mayor, who has denied all charges, called them &ldquo;unimaginable accusations and slanders&rdquo;, and vowed not to bow to political pressure, the report said.</p>
<p>”Together, we will erase this blow to our democracy, this dark stain, once and for all. The days are near when those who orchestrated this dark plot will be held accountable, both in this world and before the Almighty in the hereafter. I stand tall, and will keep my head high. Everything will be much better,” Imamoglu posted on X.</p>
<p>”Everything will be great” was in fact his party’s slogan during the campaign for the 2019 mayoral polls that saw his massive victory against Binali Yıldırım, the candidate fielded by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).</p>
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<p dir=”ltr” lang=”en”>I stand tall and will keep my head high. Fear cannot stop the inevitable!<br /><br />One way or another, you will be defeated. You will be defeated by our just cause, our courage, our humility, and our warm smiles.<br /><br />My great nation,<br />Do not be sad, do not be disheartened, and never lose&hellip;</p>
&mdash; Ekrem İmamoğlu (International) (@imamoglu_int) <a href=”https://twitter.com/imamoglu_int/status/1903776546298404909?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>March 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<p>While opposition leaders have denounced the arrest and may appeal the court ruling, the AK Party government has denied that the action was politically motivated, and warned the people against protests amid a nationwide ban on gatherings, Reuters reported.</p>
<p>Members of Imamoglu’s Republican People&rsquo;s Party (CHP), T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s main opposition party, flocked to polling stations on Sunday along with supporters to formally endorse the jailed mayor as their presidential candidate in the 2028 election.</p>
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<h2><strong>Who Is Ekrem Imamoglu?&nbsp;</strong></h2>
<p>Ekrem Imamoglu, at the forefront of opposition against Erdogan, rose to prominence after he first won the Istanbul mayoral election in March 2019, albeit by a narrow margin. The election was challenged by the AK Party, and the country’s Supreme Electoral Council annulled it. However, the CHP repeated the feat months later in the rerun election, with a much larger margin.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The result was significant because Istanbul is T&uuml;rkiye’s largest city and a crucial political stronghold. Imamoglu’s success was seen as a major setback for Erdogan, who had previously served as Istanbul’s mayor himself. The president has been <a title=”quoted as saying” href=”https://www.tele1.com.tr/video/erdogan-istanbulda-teklersek-turkiyede-tokezleriz” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>quoted as saying</a> in the past that if his party “lost Istanbul, we would lose Turkey”. &nbsp;</p>
<p>Imamoglu growing popularity and moderate tone have made him the de facto face of the Turkish opposition. Recent opinion polls even show Imamoglu leading Erdogan in head-to-head matchups.</p>
<figure class=”image”><img src=”https://feeds.abplive.com/onecms/images/uploaded-images/2025/03/23/cc6aa7a4afed8c456a05b8ad7f3795851742741032818236_original.jpg” alt=”Ekrem Imamoglu was preparing to run in the 2028 presidential election | Photo: X/@imamoglu_int” width=”720″ />
<figcaption>Ekrem Imamoglu was preparing to run in the 2028 presidential election | Photo: X/@imamoglu_int</figcaption>
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<p>Imamoglu was preparing to run in the 2028 presidential election, and his arrest from his home on March 19 came days before he was to be registered as the party’s presidential candidate.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Imamoglu’s popularity stems from his ability to unite various opposition groups and his strong stance against Erdogan’s policies that are seen as authoritarian. He is considered Erdogan’s most serious political rival.</p>
<p>Observers believe Erdogan may attempt to bring the elections forward, according to reports. The president, who has ruled T&uuml;rkiye for 22 years, would otherwise reach his constitutional term limit in 2028.</p>
<p>A conviction under the charges brought against him could bar Imamoglu from running for the presidency, potentially paving the way for Erdogan to extend his rule, reports said.&nbsp;</p>
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<p dir=”ltr” lang=”en”>Millions of voters across T&uuml;rkiye and abroad are rushing to the polls to my support in the CHP’s presidential primary election. With overwhelming turnout, voting hours have been extended in key locations like Sara&ccedil;hane until 08:30 PM, where citizens from all walks of life are&hellip; <a href=”https://t.co/s1VfXC0bH2″>pic.twitter.com/s1VfXC0bH2</a></p>
&mdash; Ekrem İmamoğlu (International) (@imamoglu_int) <a href=”https://twitter.com/imamoglu_int/status/1903814453247848747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>March 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>T&uuml;rkiye Takes To Streets To Protest Imamoglu Arrest</strong></h2>
<p>Imamoglu’s arrest has sparked widespread protests across T&uuml;rkiye, with thousands demonstrating against what they see as a politically motivated move to silence opposition. The protests have been met with police force, leading to clashes and detentions. Reports said the situation has also affected T&uuml;rkiye’s economy, with significant declines in the Turkish lira, stocks, and bonds.</p>
<p>Opposition CHP has denounced the arrest as a “coup attempt”, with party leader Ozgur Ozel pledging to appeal the ruling, CNN reported.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Our conscience is clear, our head is held high. The decision that was taken unjustly, illegally, has no aspect of justice. All the decisions taken are political,&rdquo; Imamoglu&rsquo;s wife, Dilek Imamoglu, told reporters outside the courthouse, according to the report.</p>
<p>According to CNN Turk, Imamoglu was among 45 people detained as part of a widening investigation that also includes Istanbul district mayors and municipal staff. A second investigation is underway over alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers&rsquo; Party (PKK) &mdash; a group deemed a terrorist organisation by T&uuml;rkiye &mdash; but has not yet led to formal terrorism charges.</p>
<p>The timing of Imamoglu&rsquo;s arrest &mdash; just days before his expected nomination &mdash; has sparked outrage among opposition supporters and concerns from rights advocates. Istanbul University also revoked his academic degree last week over alleged irregularities, further undermining his presidential eligibility, the CNN report said.</p>
<p>While the Turkish government maintains that the courts are independent, critics have blasted the move as a dangerous lurch toward authoritarianism. Political analyst Murat Somer told CNN that the situation marked a transformation from &ldquo;an open autocratic regime to a Russian- or Belarussian-style, fully authoritarian, autocratic regime&rdquo;.</p>
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<p dir=”ltr” lang=”en”>Today, T&uuml;rkiye woke up to a profound betrayal. <br /><br />The ongoing judicial process is far from being fair – it is an execution without trial.<br /><br />I invite our nation to fight for their rights. This fight is crucial for the future of our nation and our children. <br /><br />For the future of&hellip;</p>
&mdash; Ekrem İmamoğlu (International) (@imamoglu_int) <a href=”https://twitter.com/imamoglu_int/status/1903806300846281142?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>March 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Backlash And Market Shock</strong></h2>
<p>Erdogan has dismissed the outcry over Imamoglu&rsquo;s arrest as political theatre. In a televised statement Saturday night, the president warned: &ldquo;…no one in T&uuml;rkiye is outside the scope of the law.&rdquo; He said his government would &ldquo;not allow CHP and its supporters to disrupt public order with provocations and disturb the peace of our nation&rdquo;, according to the CNN report cited above.</p>
<p>Over 300 protesters have been arrested nationwide since Friday, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, the report said. Demonstrators clashed with police in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, as riot squads used tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray pellets to disperse crowds, the report said, adding that many chanted slogans against Erdogan and held up signs reading &ldquo;CHP will make it, Turkey will win”.</p>
<p>”Imamoglu has become Erdogan’s … nightmare … We will make Ekrem Imamoglu president,” protester Mehmet Karatas told Reuters outside the courthouse.</p>
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<p dir=”ltr” lang=”en”>There is no salvation alone; either all of us together or none of us. <a href=”https://t.co/PgozeGa09S”>pic.twitter.com/PgozeGa09S</a></p>
&mdash; Ekrem İmamoğlu (International) (@imamoglu_int) <a href=”https://twitter.com/imamoglu_int/status/1903391138163184024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>March 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<p>The political crisis has also rattled financial markets. The Reuters report said Turkish lira, stock market, and bond yields all plummeted following the arrest. Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan is expected to meet the country&rsquo;s banking association to discuss emergency economic measures.</p>