ISTANBUL: Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Saturday told police the allegations against him that sparked his arrest were “immoral and baseless”, he said in a statement released by City Hall.

“The immoral and baseless accusations directed at me... are designed to undermine my standing and credibility,” he told police, who quizzed him for five hours on Saturday about allegations of “helping a terrorist organisation”.

“This process has not only harmed Turkiye’s international reputation but has also shattered the public’s sense of justice and trust in the economy,” Imamoglu said. “Those orchestrating this process will soon be held accountable before both divine and earthly courts.”

Prior to Imamoglu’s statement in City Hall, Turkiye has witnessed a fourth straight night of protests as the biggest street unrest the country has seen in over a decade raged on over his arrest.

As the crowds began massing outside Istanbul City Hall, a convoy carrying the 53-year-old mayor arrived at Caglayan court on the other side of the city, a spokesman for his administration said. Outside the court, police had set up a tight security cordon with nearly 20 anti-riot vehicles on standby, while some 500 protesters stood nearby, chanting: “Shoulder to shoulder against fascism!” agency correspondent said..

Imamoglu was arrested just days before he was to be formally named the main opposition CHP’s candidate for the 2028 presidential race. “We are here today to stand up for the candidate we voted for,” 30-year-old Aykut Cenk said outside the court, holding a Turkish flag.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2025