Türkiye: Arrests shock Istanbul - opposition under pressure!

Türkiye: Arrests shock Istanbul - opposition under pressure!

Istanbul, Türkei - On June 6, 2025, the political landscape of Türkiye was shaken again after five district mayors of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) were arrested in Istanbul and Adana. Among the arrested are three city heads from Istanbul and two mayors from Adana. Overall, the number of imprisoned CHP mayors increases to nine, such as vienna.at reported.

The police carried out the arrests as part of an investigation due to alleged corruption in the municipalities ruled by the CHP. In addition to the mayors, 47 urban employees were sought in Istanbul. These actions are part of four separate procedures that deal with allegations of corruption, whereby many of the arrests focus on investigations in the Istanbul town hall. Around 70 people have already been arrested in a large -scale raid, among which the private secretary and a security employee of the detained Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu are, whose fate remains uncertain in view of several ongoing procedures.

political context and reactions

Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been in high -security custody in Silivri prison since March, is considered one of the most important political rivals of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. His arrest triggered massive protests last month, and despite the ongoing proceedings, the CHP nominated its top politician as a presidential candidate for the election in 2028. Human rights organizations and international observers accuse the government of politicizing the judiciary to eliminate opponents. According to Zeit.de , the procedure against İmamoğlu is considered politically motivated.

The new wave of arrests based on arrest warrants for almost 50 city employees also shows the increasing repression against the opposition in Turkey. Numerous human rights groups are calling for independent studies on the allegations and criticizing the political motives behind the Turkish government's measures. The police are now carrying out targeted operations against members of the CHP, which further fueled the tensions between the government and the opposition.

human rights perspective

The latest events are part of a long -term trend in Turkey, in which human rights violations and oppression of the opposition increase. Organizations such as Amnesty International have repeatedly pointed out the violation of civil rights and the political persecution of opponents of government. In a report by Amnesty International it is pointed out to the importance of independent legal procedures to ensure a fair legal system. Subject developments also raise questions about the rule of law in the country that are vehemently contested by the Turkish government. This is presented by the government as the basis for its measures for 'security' and 'stability'.

The arrests of CHP members and the fate of Ekrem İmamoğlu could thus have far-reaching effects on the future political landscape of Türkiye. The trust in the judiciary and the democratic institutions is strongly shaken by many citizens, while the international community is observing Turkey.