Turkey Detains Multiple Opposition Mayors in Expanding Crackdown

Turkish authorities have intensified a legal crackdown on opposition figures by detaining multiple mayors from the Republican People's Party (CHP) on corruption charges. The mayor of Istanbul’s northern district of Sile, Ozgur Kabadayi, was recently detained along with other municipal officials, though specific charges remain unclear. Similarly, Adana Mayor Zeydan Karalar and Manavgat Municipality Mayor Niyazi Nefi Kara have been arrested amid ongoing bribery and corruption investigations, with several other suspects also detained. These arrests follow the earlier jailing of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent opposition leader and perceived challenger to President Tayyip Erdogan’s long-standing rule. The government asserts these actions reflect independent judicial efforts to combat corruption, but opposition parties and Western supporters view them as politically motivated attempts to weaken Erdogan’s rivals. The escalating crackdown has sparked significant public protests and calls for impartial legal proceedings in Turkey.