A sharp diplomatic dispute has erupted between France and Turkey following a series of high-profile arrests of opposition mayors in Turkey, threatening to strain further the already fraught relationship between the two NATO allies. Paris issued a statement expressing grave concern over what it sees as a crackdown on democracy, prompting a furious rebuke from Ankara, which accused France of gross interference and hypocrisy.
The row ignited after France condemned the detention of several prominent political figures. According to a new statement from the Foreign Ministry of France, the government expressed its "deep concern following the arrests of several opposition officials on July 5, including the mayors of Adana, Antalya, and Adıyaman." The French ministry noted that these actions follow the jailing of Istanbul's popular mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, over three months ago and the arrest of municipal members in Izmir on July 1. The statement concluded by affirming that "respect for the rights of local and parliamentary opposition officials, the right to a fair trial, and the freedom of assembly and expression constitute cornerstones of the rule of law and democracy."
Turkey's response was swift and uncompromising. In a declaration issued the same day, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced it "categorically rejects the statement… which amounts to interference in the ongoing judicial processes in our country." Ankara defended the legal actions, asserting that "Turkey, within the framework of the rule of law, guarantees fair and impartial judicial processes for all its citizens," and that the proceedings are being handled by "independent judicial bodies" as mandated by the Turkish Constitution.
Turning the tables, Ankara accused Paris of glaring hypocrisy. The Turkish ministry's statement pointedly argued that the French criticism "is a clear display of double standards, considering that in France, the main opposition leader was sentenced to prison by a court decision and banned from participating in elections, and that cases against some mayors are ongoing." The Turkish government concluded with a stern warning, advising France "to respect our domestic law and judicial independence, to refrain from making politically motivated statements about other countries, and to focus on its internal affairs."
This latest clash is another chapter in a long history of diplomatic friction between French President Emmanuel Macron and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The two leaders have previously sparred over conflicts in Libya and Syria, maritime rights in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the role of Islam in Europe. The arrests of the opposition mayors, particularly the continued incarceration of Ekrem İmamoğlu—widely seen as a potential challenger to Erdoğan in future presidential elections—represent a critical flashpoint in Turkey's domestic politics, one that is now causing significant reverberations on the international stage.
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