Turkish court orders Istanbul mayor Imamoglu jailed pending trial
Al JazeeraMAR 24
Protests Erupt in Turkey as Istanbul Mayor Jailed
Above: Protesters hold a Turkish national flag during a demonstration supporting Istanbul's arrested mayor in Ankara on March 23, 2025. Image copyright: Adem Altan/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, a popular opposition figure poised to become the CHP's presidential candidate, represents a watershed moment in Turkey's democratic decline. By detaining him and over 100 colleagues just days before his nomination, Pres. Erdoğan has escalated from mere harassment to outright elimination of political rivals, signaling a decisive shift toward Russian-style authoritarian rule.
Narrative B
İmamoğlu's arrest culminates a vast corruption probe that has revealed an alleged $15B scheme within the city's administration. As investigators revealed money-filled suitcases and stalled infrastructure projects, prosecutors moved against what may be Turkey's largest-ever municipal scandal — a necessary intervention to protect public funds after years of reported systemic abuse of taxpayer money.