Turkey Detains 37 Over “Provocative” Social Media Posts Following Istanbul Mayor’s Detention

Turkish authorities have detained 37 people accused of sharing “provocative” social media posts related to the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as per Al Jazeera.

Imamoglu, a leading figure in the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), was taken into custody on Wednesday on charges including corruption and aiding a “terrorist” group. He denies all allegations. His detention triggered immediate protests across the country.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that within 24 hours of Imamoglu’s detention, 18.6 million posts were shared on the X social media platform about the mayor. Authorities identified 261 social media accounts allegedly responsible for sharing provocative content aimed at inciting public hatred or crime.

The crackdown extends beyond social media users. Dozens of prominent figures, including journalists, businesspeople, and Istanbul municipality staff, were also detained on Wednesday.

Despite a four-day ban on public gatherings imposed following Imamoglu’s detention, protesters have taken to the streets and university campuses in various cities. Authorities have also closed several roads and restricted access to certain social media platforms.

Further escalating tensions, a construction company co-owned by Imamoglu, Imamoglu Construction, Trade and Industry, has been seized by court order based on financial crime investigation reports, according to the Istanbul chief public prosecutor’s office.

Imamoglu’s CHP represents the biggest political threat to Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AK Party). His detention comes just days before he was expected to be nominated as the CHP’s presidential candidate in a primary scheduled for Sunday. The party has confirmed the primary will proceed as planned.

CHP chairman Ozgur Ozel has condemned Imamoglu’s detention as a “coup attempt” against the next president. Government critics view the actions as a deliberate effort to extend Erdogan’s more than two-decade rule, particularly after the governing party’s setbacks in local elections last year.

While government officials reject claims of politically motivated crackdowns, insisting on the independence of the courts, the situation has drawn international concern.

Russia has stated that Imamoglu’s detention is a sovereign affair of Turkey, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has described the move as a “very bad sign” for Europe-Turkey relations.

Turkey’s next presidential vote is scheduled for 2028, though the possibility of early elections remains.