Turkish Authorities Intensify Repression Against Opposition Figures: Istanbul Mayor and Mass Arrests
Turkey is experiencing a significant escalation in political repression as government authorities continue to clamp down on opposition figures and activists.
On Friday, a wave of mass arrests was carried out, including the detention of a district mayor from Istanbul and approximately forty other officials from various levels of government.
This move signals a new and more targeted phase in the government’s ongoing campaign against political opponents.
According to reports from Anadolu Agency and local media outlets, Inan Güneş, the mayor of Beyoğlu district in Istanbul, was detained on suspicion of corruption as part of an ongoing investigation.
Several close aides, including security personnel and advisors, were also taken into custody.
Güneş is a member of Turkey’s main opposition party, the secular Republican People’s Party (CHP).
His arrest came five months after the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, a popular opposition mayor of Istanbul, on similar corruption charges, which sparked widespread protests across the country.
İmamoğlu, a prominent political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has been openly critical of the current government and has announced his candidacy for the 2028 presidential elections.
He insists that all allegations are politically motivated and denies any wrongdoing.
The opposition has been gradually gaining popularity, achieving notable successes in recent regional elections.
The CHP recently secured victories in Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Bursa, and Adana, increasing its national support to 37.8% and winning 35 out of 81 provinces.
While the Erdoğan government claims that these arrests are not politically motivated and are necessary for maintaining law and order, human rights organizations contend that these actions are aimed at suppressing the rising influence of opposition forces.
The arrest of İmamoğlu in March led to mass protests, which the authorities violently suppressed, detaining thousands of demonstrators.
Since then, the Turkish government has continued its crackdown, detaining numerous opposition leaders and activists, further destabilizing the political climate in the country.