Author: SUZAN FRASER Associated Press, ABC News
Published on: 19/03/2025 | 13:34:23
AI Summary:
Ekrem Imamoglu is the only person to have beaten Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party in three local elections. Many see the arrest as part of a broader campaign to undermine the mayor. It is also the latest in a string of crackdowns on opponents and dissenters in Turkey. Imamoglu was able to serve as mayor for just 18 days before election result was annulled and his mandate was revoked over alleged vote irregularities. The challenge resulted in a repeat of the election a few months later. On Sunday, the CHP was scheduled to hold a primary election. I believe the people of Istanbul will give the necessary response to this injustice at the polls. Opinion polls in Turkey have pointed at a slight lead by the CHP over Erdogan’s party. A day before his arrest, Istanbul University invalidated Imamoglu’s diploma. The unprecedented decision effectively disqualifies him from running for president. Under Turkish laws, only university graduates can hold presidential office. Umit Ozdag, the leader of a far-right party and outspoken Erdogan critic was also arrested in January on charges of inciting hatred and hostility. Selahattin Demirtas, the popular former leader of Turkey's pro-Kurdish political party, was arrested in 2016 on terrorism-related charges. Osman Kavala, a businessman and rights activist who was imprisoned in 2017 for allegedly attempting to overthrow the government.
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