Turkiye detains 37 people over social media publications about the mayor of Istanbul | Government news

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu is in custody after being detained on corruption and terror, which led to protests.

Turkiye has detained 37 people accused of sharing “provocative” publications on social media for detaining Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

Imamoglu, the main political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was taken under the guard Wednesday On accusations, including corruption and support for a “terrorist” group – the allegations he denies.

On Thursday, Interior Minister Ali Jerlikaya said 18.6 million publications were shared on the social media X platform for Imamoglu within 24 hours after his detention.

He said the authorities identify 261 social media accounts that share provocative positions, inciting public hatred or crime. At least 37 of the suspected account users were detained in a police operation, writes Yerlikaya to X.

Efforts to retain other suspects continue, he added.

Dozens of prominent figures, including journalists, businessmen and employees of the municipality in Istanbul, were also detained on Wednesday, which led to protests.

Protesters took to the streets and university campuses in different cities, despite the four -day ban on gatherings imposed after the detention of Imamoglu.

In addition to the demonstration ban, authorities closed several roads and limit access to some social media platforms.

A construction company, co -owned by Imamoglu, has been seized, announced the Prosecutor General of Istanbul. It states that the control of the construction, trade and industry of Imamoglu was taken over by a court on the basis of reports on the investigation of financial crimes.

The government to “present solid evidence”

The Republican People's Party of Imamoglu (CHP) is the largest political threat to the party for justice and development of Erdogan or the AK Party.

The detention of Imamoglu came just days before he was expected to be nominated as a CHP presidential candidate at a major Sunday. The party leader said the primary would continue as planned.

CHP chairman Ozgur Zelell described the detention of Imamoglu as a “coup attempt” against the next president.

“Imamoglu won twice the biggest elections for mayor (in Istanbul) – he won the last with a huge margin of about 52 percent,” said son Koseoglu to Al Jazeera, reporting from Turks.

Koseoglu said: “He is now in the arrest of police and accused of accusations of corruption and terrorism. According to refereeing sources cited in the media, there is a corruption of about $ 15 billion, which is shared by Imamoglu and its entourage through municipal companies related to it.

“However, Imamoglu's accusation of accusations of terrorism is an important step-if you are found guilty, you can be replaced by a guardian appointed guardian. Many who now suspect that Imamoglu will be replaced.”

Government critics consider detention as an effort to extend Erdogan's rule for more than two decades significant losses from the ruling party In local elections last year.

Government officials, for their part, reject the allegations that repression against opposition data are politically motivated and insist that the courts act independently.

Other places on Thursday, Russia said the detention of Imamoglu was the sovereign affair of Turkish, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said this move was a “very bad sign” for Europe-Turkie's ties.

The next Turkiye president is scheduled for 2028, but early elections are possible.