Last year, I was re-elected as mayor of Istanbul with 51% of the vote. It was the second time I had beaten the government-backed candidate. The first time was in 2019, when the mayoral election results were cancelled on weak grounds. Voters went back to the polls and gave us an even bigger victory.
But this year, democracy in Turkey has entered its most dangerous period. It began in March, just before I was nominated as the presidential candidate for the CHP, the long-established Republican People’s Party. That’s when my university degree was suddenly cancelled. Why does that matter? Because under Turkish law, you need a degree to run for president. Soon after, I was accused of corruption and “aiding a terrorist organization.” For the past six months, I’ve been in jail, arrested on politically motivated corruption charges based on “anonymous” witnesses. In a country that is part of the European Convention on Human Rights, this is unacceptable.
I’m not the only one. Across Turkey, more than a dozen opposition mayors are now imprisoned. Sadly, the number keeps growing. More than a quarter of Istanbul’s districts have seen their elected leaders arrested, silencing millions of voters in one of the world’s great cities.
Repression has spread to every level—from mayors in cities like Adana and Antalya, to municipal staff in Istanbul. Hundreds of people are in prison, including journalists, academics, businesspeople, and students.
Enes Hocaoğulları, a youth delegate to the Council of Europe, was detained simply for speaking out under Turkey’s vague laws against “misleading” the public. This shows how extreme the crackdown has become. His release after protests at home and abroad is a small but meaningful victory for democratic resistance.
Let me be clear about what’s happening. With the arrogance of unchecked power, President Erdoğan is once again using the courts as a weapon against the democratic opposition. This time, opponents are being jailed and replaced with loyalists. Unable to shut down the CHP, the government is pursuing a case that could erase the party’s rising leadership by overturning the results of its 2023 national congress. Earlier this month, a court moved to cancel the CHP’s local congress in Istanbul, remove its chair, and install a trustee.
The case against the CHP, which the government keeps prolonging to destabilize the main opposition and remove its legitimate leaders, marks a turning point in the dismantling of political pluralism. A system where judges replace elected leaders with handpicked substitutes is not a democracy.
After hollowing out the country’s institutions to build an authoritarian regime, Erdoğan now aims to create a compliant, hollow opposition. He wants to rewrite the rules so no real rival can survive, securing power like Egypt’s Mubarak or Syria’s Assad. These deliberate tactics could be copied elsewhere unless democrats everywhere stand together to resist them.
Erdoğan’s increasingly repressive methods reveal his declining popular support and his desperate attempt to hold onto power. To avoid another election defeat, he changes the rules. He uses smear campaigns, corruption charges, efforts to divide the opposition, and the ever-present “terrorist” label. Yet, this show of force has only weakened his legitimacy, leaving him more dependent on a small minority and state machinery.
The people of Turkey are no longer fooled. Protests fill the streets, and polls consistently show the CHP as the country’s leading party. Since March 19, the day I was detained and jailed, millions of citizens—even in Erdoğan’s supposed strongholds—have joined peaceful protests to demand justice.Despite the risk of arrest and police violence, people continue to resist. This spirit of defiance reflects Turkey’s 150-year tradition of parliamentary democracy. But resistance alone is not enough.
That is why the CHP is developing a detailed roadmap for a democratic transition, aimed at building a strong and inclusive alliance. Our plan includes: winning elections, stabilizing the economy, restoring judicial independence, fighting corruption and organized crime, expanding social rights, rebuilding trust in public institutions, and redefining Turkey’s role in a rapidly changing world.
Turkey’s struggle for democracy, freedom, and justice is not just Turkey’s fight. If a country that has long shown democracy is a universal ideal slides further into autocracy, the effects will be felt far beyond its borders.
Still, I am convinced that the will of the people will ultimately triumph. Our anger in the face of injustice must be channeled into a clear strategy—one that builds a new political culture and institutions worthy of Turkey’s democratic heritage. If we succeed, we will not only restore democracy at home but also help revive it around the world.
Ekrem İmamoğlu is the elected mayor of Istanbul and the presidential candidate for Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP).
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the situation you described written in a natural tone with clear direct answers
General BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Who is the person saying I was elected mayor of Istanbul yet I am writing this from prison
This is almost certainly Ekrem mamolu the current Mayor of Istanbul He was imprisoned briefly in 2022 after his election and has faced legal challenges
2 Why was the mayor of Istanbul sent to prison
He was convicted of insulting public officials The specific case stemmed from a comment he made about members of Turkeys Supreme Election Council He received a prison sentence and a political ban which is currently under appeal
3 What does his statement mean for Turkish democracy
Many observers see it as a sign of democratic backsliding When an elected official can be jailed and potentially barred from office by the courts it raises concerns about the independence of the judiciary and the fairness of political competition
4 Is it common for opposition politicians to be jailed in Turkey
In recent years yes Many politicians journalists and activists who are critical of the government have faced legal investigations arrests and imprisonment on charges like terrorism or insulting the president
Advanced Detailed Questions
5 What is the specific charge of insulting public officials and how is it used
It is a criminal charge meant to protect the honor of civil servants Critics argue it is often used broadly to silence and punish government critics including politicians and journalists creating a chilling effect on free speech
6 What is the political ban mentioned in his case
The court sentenced him to both prison time and a political ban If upheld by higher courts this ban would prevent him from holding any political office effectively removing him as mayor and barring him from future elections
7 How does this situation connect to larger issues in Turkey
It highlights several key issues
Erosion of Judicial Independence The perception that courts are influenced by the government
Politicization of the Judiciary Using legal systems as a tool against political rivals
Crackdown on Dissent Creating a environment where opposition voices are systematically challenged through legal means
