It seems clear that the "terrorist organization" Imamoglu is accused of helping is simply the formidable opposition party in Turkey that is closing in on ending Erdogan's reign.
YIGAL CARMON, MEMRI -- On March 19, 2025, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on multiple charges, including “helping a terror organization” and “corruption.”
He was suspended from office and jailed in Istanbul’s Silivri prison, known for housing political prisoners. His lawyer was also briefly detained.
Imamoglu, a leading figure in the opposition Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (CHP), was officially named the party’s presidential candidate on March 27, just days after his arrest. The CHP, once led by Ataturk, made major gains in the 2024 local elections, defeating Erdogan’s ruling AKP party for the first time in 22 years and winning control of Turkey’s five largest cities.