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Translated by: Flutura Gashi-Mehmeti
- March 20 2025 09: 33
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Turkey has arrested 37 people on suspicion of making "provocative posts that incite crime and hatred" in connection with the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Thursday.
Turkey on Wednesday arrested Imamoglu, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main rival, on charges including corruption and aiding a terrorist group, a move that the main opposition party has criticized as a "coup attempt against the incoming president," Reuters reports.
Turkish authorities have identified 261 social media accounts, including 62 based abroad, for "provocative posts" following Imamoglu's detention, Yerlikaya announced in X.
The minister said that 18.6 million posts were shared on X regarding Imamoglu in less than 24 hours after his detention.
Turkey has also seized a construction company co-owned by Imamoglu, the Istanbul chief public prosecutor's office announced.
In a statement late Wednesday, the prosecutor's office said control of the company had been taken over by a court, based on financial crime investigation reports.
Imamoglu's arrest came just days before the main opposition party, the Republican People's Party, held internal elections, where he was expected to be declared a presidential candidate.
Also, the arrest came just one day after Istanbul University revoked his university degree.
Without a university degree, Imamoglu, of the main opposition CHP, would be disqualified from running for president.
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