Erdogan strikes back: Imamoglu arrested – an attempted coup?

Erdogan strikes back: Imamoglu arrested – an attempted coup?

Political tensions in Turkey are reaching a new peak. Mega-enemy of the state and Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was sentenced to two years and seven months in prison by the Turkish court on Wednesday. This was due to alleged insults to public officials, which he said in response to a derogatory remark made by the Interior Minister. His punishment is seen as a targeted attack against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main rival. According to the opposition CHP, this is an “attempted coup against our next president,” as [Kleine Zeitung] reported.

Repression against political opponents

This condemnation comes as Imamoglu, who has overtaken Erdogan's standing in recent polls, should be put forward as a possible presidential candidate for the 2028 elections. However, he is not the only one targeted by the government; The police are also investigating social media posts critical of the government. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said 37 people were arrested, while a total of 261 users are being investigated for “provocative statements,” including 62 abroad. This highlights the systematic suppression of dissenting voices, as [Jutarnji] noted.

Meanwhile, the accessibility of social media remains severely limited in Turkey. Activists warn of an increase in censorship as the government appears to be continuing to pressure the opposition. Prominent figures within the opposition, such as Canan Kaftancıoğlu, are also being attacked by the government in order to further weaken the CHP's influence. These systematic arrests and convictions are currently taking place in the context of an upcoming election and could significantly change Türkiye's political landscape.