Istanbul, Turkey — The ongoing corruption investigation into Istanbul’s opposition-run municipality has escalated with the arrest of another lawyer representing Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Nusret Yılmaz, also the legal advocate for İmamoğlu’s wife, was detained in Trabzon on allegations related to bribery and subsequently brought to Istanbul for questioning.
Yılmaz’s detention follows the arrest of İmamoğlu’s other lawyer, Mehmet Pehlivan, on June 19. Pehlivan faced accusations of belonging to a criminal organization, which he strenuously denied, asserting his affiliations were solely with the Turkish Bar Association and the Istanbul Bar.
This recent legal turmoil has intensified accusations from opposition members regarding governmental attempts to undermine İmamoğlu’s defense. Officials from the Republican People’s Party (CHP) characterized the detentions as intimidation tactics and part of a broader strategy against opposition figures.
Public reaction has been swift, with critics voicing their dissent on social media. Journalist Naz Yavuzarslan humorously suggested that the government might detain the midwife who delivered İmamoğlu if the wave of arrests continues, critiquing the absurdity of the situation.
CHP Deputy Melih Meriç echoed these sentiments by claiming that the detention of Yılmaz undermines the fundamental right to defense and is a direct assault on justice. He cautioned that silencing lawyers silences millions of citizens seeking legal recourse.
İmamoğlu himself was detained on March 19 and later charged with corruption, which many perceive as a politically motivated tactic aimed at curbing his influence as a formidable opponent to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ahead of the 2028 presidential elections. His arrest triggered significant protests across Turkey, marking one of the largest displays of public dissent in recent memory.
Since late 2024, over 500 individuals associated with the CHP or the Istanbul Municipality have faced various charges, including terrorism and bid rigging, contributing to what critics label a systematic crackdown on dissent. This group includes 14 CHP mayors, with İmamoğlu also being suspended from his position.
The operations aimed at undermining the CHP are viewed by supporters as attempts to neutralize elected officials following the party’s electoral successes in March 2024. İmamoğlu faces multiple investigations and has received two prison sentences, including one for allegedly insulting a public prosecutor, both of which he is appealing.
Concerns about the rule of law in Turkey have been raised by international human rights organizations and lawmakers from Europe, who warn that the mass detentions and legal pressures threaten to erode democratic norms further. Marmara Prison in Silivri, where numerous opposition figures, including İmamoğlu, are incarcerated, has become emblematic of the ongoing political strife in the country.
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