 believed his candidacy in the next presidential election would bring an end to their hold on power.){kind=link}
İstanbul’s suspended mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has said that he was imprisoned because Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) believed his candidacy in the next presidential election would bring an end to their hold on power.
İmamoğlu, widely seen as Erdoğan’s strongest political rival, was arrested March 23, the day his party, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), was set to hold a primary to select its presidential candidate. The vote was held as planned and a record 15.5 million people cast ballots for the jailed mayor after the CHP opened the poll to the general public beyond its 1.5 million registered members.
İmamoğlu was detained early on March 19, sparking mass protests that have spread across Turkey. The vote took place as an İstanbul court formalized his arrest in a corruption probe. Several hours later, the interior ministry suspended him as mayor as he was sent to a prison on the megacity’s western outskirts.
In a letter from Silivri Prison, where he is held pending trial, İmamoğlu on Monday said authorities moved against him ahead of the symbolic opposition primary that was expected to confirm his candidacy for the 2028 presidential race because the ruling AKP saw his campaign as a threat to its grip on power.
“We were imprisoned based on a court ruling built on the unfounded claims of a few so-called ‘secret witnesses.’ … We were jailed because they saw that my candidacy for president — backed by 15.5 million voters, including 1.5 million CHP members — would mark the end of their rule,” the mayor wrote.
He also voiced support for Ümit Özdağ, leader of the anti-refugee Victory Party, who has been in pretrial detention in the same facility since late January on charges of inciting hatred after delivering a speech that harshly criticized the government.
“Mr. Özdağ, like me, is being unlawfully imprisoned. He waited 77 days for a mere nine-page indictment, and now his first hearing is scheduled for two months from now. I ask: What kind of justice is this?” İmamoğlu said.
The mayor stated that both he and Özdağ have been paying the price for engaging in opposition politics. He underlined that the law cannot be used as a tool to silence political opponents.
İmamoğlu said, “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
Meanwhile, in another statement from prison, İmamoğlu expressed concern over the German government’s decision to block the delivery of some 30 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey following his arrest.
“I would like to address the incoming German government: Turkey is not just Erdoğan; Turkey is bigger than Erdoğan. Governments come and go, but Turkey’s national interests are more valuable than both Erdoğan’s and my own. I urge you to reverse your decision,” the mayor said.
Basından öğrendiğim kadarıyla, Silivri’ye hapsedilmemiz üzerine, Alman Hükümeti hava kuvvetlerimizin büyük ihtiyacı olan ve uzun zamandır beklediğimiz Eurofighter savaş uçağının Türkiye’ye satışını veto etmiş.
Almanya’da görevi devralmaya hazırlanan yeni hükümete seslenmek…
— Ekrem İmamoğlu (@ekrem_imamoglu) April 21, 2025
“The end of Erdoğan’s rule is near,” he added, vowing that under their government, Turkey would fully join the EU and work with all its allies, including Germany and the European Union, based on mutual interests, the rule of law and democratic principles.
Germany’s move halts Turkey’s broader plan to acquire 40 Eurofighter Typhoons, 20 Tranche 1 jets from the UK and 20 advanced Tranche 4 models, to modernize its air force. The Eurofighter is a joint project by Germany, the UK, Italy and Spain, requiring all partners’ approval for exports.