Another district mayor belonging to Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) was arrested early Thursday (July 10) in Istanbul’s Şile district.
Şile district mayor Özgür Kabadayı was arrested in the dawn raid, which was carried out by a branch of the Istanbul police responsible for financial crimes.
The operation was immediately criticized by the CHP, who released a statement saying:
“Those in power are trying to suppress what they could not defeat at the ballot box using the police and the judiciary. This is a smear campaign against our municipalities.”
The Şile municipality, which lies on Istanbul’s Black Sea coastline, was won by Kabadayı in 2024’s local elections with 51.88% of the vote. Kabadayı’s victory ended 20 years of rule in the municipality by Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
CHP’s Istanbul head Özgür Çelik also criticized the raid, saying it was in violation of a law prohibiting arrests at homes and workplaces during night hours.
Since the party’s major success in 2024’s elections, Turkey’s CHP has come under increasing pressure, with numerous elected officials arrested, removed from office, or replaced in recent months, including mayors of Istanbul, Adana, Antalya, and others.
Written/translated for Medyascope by Leo Kendrick
Another Istanbul district mayor arrested in dawn operation
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