Turkish authorities on Sunday temporarily suspended Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a potential presidential contender, from his mayoral duties after an Istanbul court formally arrested him early Sunday, pending the outcome of his trial on corruption charges,
Al-Monitor reports.
The Interior Ministry announced later Sunday that both Imamoglu and two other Istanbul district mayors, Belikduzu Mayor Mahmet Murat Calik and Sisli Mayor Resul Emrah Sahan, who were arrested along with him, had been temporarily suspended from their duties.
Turkish authorities also replaced Sahan with a state official following his arrest on terror charges earlier Sunday, the ministry said. Had Imamoglu been formally arrested on terror-related charges, it could have paved the way for a trustee to be appointed to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality as well.
Imamoglu was detained over corruption and terrorism-related accusations on Wednesday, sparking mass protests across Turkey as opposition voices deemed the detention a politically motivated move aimed at a key rival of Erdogan. The Turkish government strongly denies the accusation, insisting that the judiciary operates independently.
An Istanbul court formally arrested him early Sunday on corruption charges but ruled that there was no need for an arrest on terrorism accusations.
A man walks in front of a large poster showing the portrait of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19, 2025 in Istanbul, Turkey. Chris McGrath/Getty Images
The Istanbul Municipal Council will meet next Wednesday and elect a deputy to replace Imamoglu.
The ruling came on the same day as a primary for the Republican People's Party (CHP), where Imamoglu is expected to be confirmed as the main opposition candidate for the 2028 presidential election.
People from across Turkey formed long lines at CHP election centers to cast their votes in favor of electing Imamoglu.
On Saturday night, when Imamoglu was taken to an Istanbul courthouse, hundreds of thousands gathered outside Istanbul City Hall for the largest of four consecutive nights of protests, while thousands across Turkey also took to the streets.
