Turkey’s ruling party and its nationalist ally defended the legality of the detention of İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s main political rival, amid widespread criticism that the operation was politically motivated.
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç said Wednesday that associating the operation against İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor İmamoğlu with President Erdoğan was “impertinent,” emphasizing the independence of the judiciary.
“In a state governed by the rule of law, if there’s an allegation of a crime, the place to defend oneself is not on the streets but in judicial institutions,” Tunç said. He warned that attempts to characterize judicial actions as “a coup” were dangerous and inappropriate.
İmamoğlu was detained early Wednesday at his İstanbul residence in a police raid involving around 20 officers. Authorities also detained at least 87 others, including senior municipal officials, mayors, artists and a prominent journalist, İsmail Saymaz, in separate investigations.
The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office accused İmamoğlu of leading a criminal organization involved in corruption and aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Charges against İmamoğlu include “leading a criminal organization,” “membership in a criminal organization,” “extortion,” “bribery,” “fraud,” “illegal acquisition of personal data” and “bid-rigging.”
Authorities claim the corruption investigation stems from leaked footage showing members of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), to which İmamoğlu belongs, counting cash. Prosecutors allege that İmamoğlu and his associates forced businesspeople to pay bribes, laundered money through proxy transactions and used private citizens to manage illicit cash flows.
In a separate investigation, İmamoğlu and six others, including Şişli district Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan, face allegations of aiding the PKK. İmamoğlu strongly denied all charges, describing his detention as political persecution.
In a video statement released shortly after police arrived at his home, İmamoğlu said hundreds of police officers had surrounded his residence. “We are facing tremendous oppression, but we will not give up. I entrust myself to my people. Everyone should know that I will stand tall,” he said.
Following the detentions, the Turkish lira fell sharply, and authorities imposed restrictions on demonstrations in İstanbul. Residents reported significant disruptions to internet access across the city.
Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), an ally of Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), strongly backed the judicial actions, asserting that no individual is “untouchable.”
“Labeling a judicial measure as a coup attempt and preparing to move demands for rights to the streets is political corruption by those who have lost their minds, morality and sanity,” Bahçeli said. He added that opposing the judiciary invites “disorder and violence” and emphasized his “absolute trust” in Turkish courts.
Critics, including prominent opposition figures, condemned the operation, accusing Erdoğan’s government of using the judiciary to silence political rivals ahead of anticipated elections.
Former AKP İzmir deputy Hüseyin Kocabıyık criticized Erdoğan directly, saying, “You’ve actually staged a coup against yourself without realizing it.”
Pro-Kurdish Peoples Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Co-chair Tuncay Bakırhan called the detentions “an open attack on democracy,” demanding the immediate release of all detainees. Fellow DEM Party Co-chair Tülay Hatimoğulları said the operation was “political” and designed to inflame societal tensions.
Müsavat Dervişoğlu, leader of the opposition İYİ (Good) Party, suggested boycotting upcoming elections if Erdoğan continues to disregard constitutional limits and target his political rivals.
“This cannot be explained by reason or by law,” Dervişoğlu said, urging opposition parties to secure control of parliament.
Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş, another prominent opposition figure from the CHP, called İmamoğlu’s detention “absolutely unacceptable,” describing the operation as an attack on democracy.
Ali Babacan, head of the opposition Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA), warned that Turkey was sliding toward authoritarianism. “If the political space is closed, it means Erdoğan intends to stay in power as long as his health permits. This signals a regime change,” Babacan said.
Erkan Baş, chairman of the Workers’ Party of Turkey, described the detentions as a “coup,” pledging that the opposition would not surrender “this beautiful country to the mercy of coup plotters.”