-
Turkish Authorities Remove Imamoglu from Office... Widespread Protests
-
The extensive public protests despite the official ban indicate growing rejection by the Turkish public of government measures that undermine the democratic process and peaceful transfer of power

The Turkish Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday the suspension of Ekrem Imamoglu's duties as Mayor of Istanbul, following a Turkish court decision to place him in preventive detention as part of investigations into alleged corruption cases. An official statement issued by the ministry stated that "the work of Ekrem Imamoglu, Mayor of Greater Istanbul, has been suspended."
The Istanbul Municipal Council, where the main opposition Republican People's Party holds the majority, is expected to select an interim mayor in the coming days following Imamoglu's removal. The ministry also clarified that it had dismissed two other mayors who were detained as part of the same case filed against Imamoglu.
Turkish security agencies arrested the Istanbul mayor last Wednesday. Imamoglu, who belongs to the Republican People's Party, is considered one of the most prominent potential candidates to compete against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the upcoming elections. He was scheduled to be selected today, Sunday, as the largest opposition party's candidate for the Turkish presidential elections.
Investigations with Imamoglu are proceeding in cases related to terrorism and corruption, while his preventive detention decision is linked to ongoing corruption investigations. Imamoglu has denied all charges against him.
Imamoglu's arrest has sparked a wave of anger and widespread protests in various Turkish cities, with tens of thousands of citizens demonstrating in recent days despite the ban on gatherings. Clashes have resulted in the detention of hundreds of protesters.
These measures reflect the Turkish regime's continuing policy of suppressing opposition and controlling the levers of power, in an approach similar to the centralized rule that prevailed in Syria under Bashar al-Assad's regime, which led to the concentration of all powers in the hands of a limited group and deprived regions of managing their own affairs.
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!