In a significant development early Saturday, Hasan Mutlu, the mayor of Istanbul’s Bayrampaşa district, was taken into custody by Turkish authorities. His arrest arises from serious allegations, including bribery, embezzlement, and fraud, as part of a broader crackdown targeting opposition figures in Turkey.
Mutlu, affiliated with the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), was detained following an order issued for 48 individuals connected to a corruption inquiry surrounding the Bayrampaşa municipality. Reports indicate that Istanbul police executed raids at 72 different locations, apprehending Mutlu along with several of his deputies.
Political tensions escalate in Turkey
In a statement shared on social media platform X, Mutlu expressed his concerns regarding his detention, asserting, “What happened is nothing more than political operations and baseless slander.” His remarks underline the escalating tensions between opposition factions and the ruling government led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
This event marks the latest in a series of arrests involving opposition officials as part of Erdoğan’s intensified campaign against dissent. Notably, in August, İnan Güney, the mayor of Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district, was also taken into custody on similar corruption allegations.
Opposition leaders face increasing scrutiny
Moreover, in March, Istanbul’s prominent mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is widely regarded as Erdoğan’s principal political rival, was sentenced to prison on charges relating to corruption and accusations of aiding a terrorist group. This verdict was met with widespread protests and public outcry. A new trial for İmamoğlu commenced on Friday, where he faces further allegations of falsifying his university degree.
All three politicians—Mutlu, Güney, and İmamoğlu—are prominent members of the CHP, which stands as Turkey’s largest opposition party. The ongoing detentions illustrate a troubling trend in the political landscape of Turkey, raising concerns over the diminishing space for dissent and the increasing authoritarianism of the current regime.