Police raided İmamoğlu’s home around dawn and took him into custody at about 7:30 a.m., according to his wife. Murat Ongun, a close aide to the mayor, and two district mayors were among the other people detained. The allegations remained accusations at this stage; government officials said the courts acted independently and rejected claims that the cases were politically directed.
The operation immediately sharpened tensions between the government and the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP. İmamoğlu had become an important national challenger after Erdoğan’s governing party suffered substantial losses in local elections the previous year. The CHP was preparing to hold a primary in which İmamoğlu was expected to be selected as its candidate for a future presidential election. Party chair Özgür Özel said that vote would proceed.
One day before the detention, Istanbul University invalidated İmamoğlu’s diploma. A university degree is required for a presidential candidate under Turkish law, meaning the decision created another obstacle to any campaign. Separately, authorities obtained a court order to seize a construction company partly owned by İmamoğlu, according to Turkish media reports cited by the Associated Press.
Officials closed roads in Istanbul and imposed a four-day ban on demonstrations. Even so, protesters gathered near police headquarters, while thousands later assembled outside city hall. Özel characterized the operation as an attempt to override voters through the judiciary. Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç said connecting judicial investigations to Erdoğan was inappropriate.
The political shock spread into financial markets. Istanbul’s principal stock index fell 7%, prompting temporary trading halts, while the Turkish lira lost roughly 3.5% against the dollar. The market moves reflected concern about the confrontation and its possible consequences for political stability.
International officials also voiced alarm. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Turkey should uphold democratic values and the rights of elected officials, while Germany’s foreign minister described the arrests as damaging to Turkish democracy. Amnesty International said the detentions intensified pressure on government critics. İmamoğlu, in a message relayed by his lawyer, said his morale remained high and urged supporters to maintain theirs. Earlier, he had said in a social-media video that he would not be discouraged. Opposition lawmakers also protested inside Parliament before leaving the chamber, adding a national dimension to the confrontation.
