Turkish authorities launched a fifth wave of operations against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) on May 31, issuing detention orders for 47 people across four separate investigations. Officials have detained 30 individuals so far, including five opposition mayors from the Republican People’s Party (CHP).
The latest sweep targets Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün, Gaziosmanpaşa Mayor Hakan Bahçetepe, Avcılar Mayor Utku Caner Çaykara, and two mayors from Adana province—Ceyhan’s Kadir Aydar and Seyhan’s Oya Tekin. Other prominent figures named in the detention orders include İBB Deputy Secretary General Erdal Celal Aksoy, CHP Party Assembly member Baki Aydöner, and former CHP parliamentarian Aykut Erdoğdu.
This operation marks the latest development in a sweeping investigation that began on March 19, when authorities first targeted the İBB with allegations of “establishing criminal organizations,” “bid rigging,” and “aiding terrorist organizations.” That initial wave resulted in the arrest of İBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu along with 53 others, including several district mayors.
The crackdown has steadily expanded through four previous waves of operations. The second wave on April 26 led to 18 arrests, including the brother of İmamoğlu’s wife. The third wave, on May 20, focused on the municipality’s media operations, resulting in 13 arrests. The fourth wave, on May 23, targeted high-level bureaucrats and subsidiary executives, resulting in 25 arrests, including İmamoğlu’s Chief of Staff.
In total, authorities have issued detention orders for 254 people since March, with 246 detained and 110 arrested. Eight individuals have been released after providing testimony under “effective remorse” provisions.
From his cell in Silivri Prison, where he has been held since March 23, Mayor İmamoğlu issued a defiant statement: “No matter how much they label us as a ‘criminal organization,’ the citizens are no longer fooled by these slanders. They know who protects everyone living on this land, not just a small minority.”
İmamoğlu challenged authorities to expedite the legal process: “Since the entire judicial mechanism is under your control, have the indictment prepared as soon as possible. Let everyone see what’s right and what’s wrong, who’s telling the truth and who’s lying.” He added, “These wasteful people know there is neither a crime nor a criminal organization. Our foreheads are clear, our heads held high.”
The imprisoned mayor also detailed restrictions imposed on him: “Their fear is so great that they’ve done everything imaginable. First, they invalidated my 30-year-old diploma. That wasn’t enough; even before there was an indictment, they declared us guilty and threw us in prison. When that didn’t work, they blocked me on social media and tried to ban my videos and posters. They’re even imposing visitation restrictions on me in prison.”
CHP leader Özgür Özel, who has declared İmamoğlu as the party’s candidate for the next presidential election, held a rally in Düzce this week as part of nationwide “Protecting the People’s Will” gatherings. Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş also attended the event, where crowds chanted “Everything will be wonderful”—İmamoğlu’s campaign slogan.
Despite the mounting pressure, İmamoğlu concluded his message with optimism: “Despite all the oppression and injustice we’ve suffered, we won’t give up, and we will succeed. Everything will be wonderful.”