Erdogan strikes back: Imamoglu arrested - a coup attempt?

Erdogan strikes back: Imamoglu arrested - a coup attempt?

Istanbul, Türkei - The political tensions in Turkey reach a new climax. Mega State enemy and mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, was sentenced to a prison sentence of two years and seven months by the Turkish court on Wednesday. This happened due to alleged insults on public officials, which he expressed in response to an derogatory remark from the Interior Minister. His punishment is considered a targeted attack against the most important rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to the opposition CHP, this is a "attempted coup against our next president", as [Kleine Zeitung] reported.

repression against political opponents

This conviction is in the room, while Imamoglu, who overtaken Erdogan's current surveys, should be set up as a possible presidential candidate for the 2028 elections. However, he is not the only one who is targeted by the government; The police also investigate government-critical social media contributions. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said that 37 people were arrested, while a total of 261 users are examined for "provocative explanations", including 62 abroad. This illustrates the systematic suppression of different voices, as [Jutarnji] noted.

In the meantime, the accessibility of social media in Turkey remains severely restricted. Activists warn of an expansion of censorship, while the government apparently continues to put pressure on the opposition. Prominent personalities within the opposition, such as Canan Kafancıoğlu, are also attacked by the government in order to further weaken the influence of the CHP. These systematic arrests and convictions are currently in the context of an upcoming election and could significantly change the political landscape of Türkiye.