Three opposition mayors have been arrested in Turkey in what the Republican People’s Party (CHP) have a branded a “political operation”.

Adana Mayor Zeydan Karalar, Antalya Mayor Muhittin Bocek and Adiyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere were all arrested on Saturday as part of an investigation into corruption allegations that have already seen the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

It follows the arrest of more than 120 people earlier this week as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in the opposition stronghold of Izmir, the country’s third-largest city.

The CHP, the largest opposition party in Turkey, has accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of targeting them after widespread success in the 2024 local elections and polling suggesting Imamoglu could unseat the president in a future election.

Mansur Yavas, CHP mayor of the capital Ankara, criticised the arrests on X, saying his party would not bow to “unlawfulness”.

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“In a system where the law is bent and twisted according to politics, where justice is applied for one segment and ignored for another, no one should expect us to trust the rule of law or believe in justice,” he wrote.

According to the state-run Anadolu Agency, the mayors of Adana and Adiyaman were linked to a case involving alleged tender-rigging and corruption.

Police also arrested Ahmet Sahin, deputy mayor of Istanbul’s Buyukcekmece district.

The mayor of Antalya was detained in a separate investigation into corruption allegations, while police also arrested his son.

The left-wing Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) also condemned the arrests on social media.

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“This persecution of elected officials must stop,” wrote Tulay Hatimogullari, co-chair of the party, on X.

“Failure to recognise the will of the people is causing deep divisions within society – these operations are not a solution, but rather block the path to a democratic Turkiye.”

Typically the interior ministry only has the power to replace elected mayors if they are suspected of terrorism offences.

Under the municipal law, if a mayor is suspended over corruption investigations a deputy mayor is selected by the city council and since the CHP holds a majority in the councils of all three cities they will not lose control.

On Monday, an Ankara court began examining a case involving allegations of vote-buying in the party’s 2023 primaries.

The move could lead to the annulment of the election of its leader Ozgur Ozel, who has become well-known for organising protests against the imprisonment of Imamoglu.

The mayors of three major cities in southern Turkey were arrested Saturday, state-run media reported, joining a growing list of opposition figures detained since the mayor of Istanbul was imprisoned in March, AP reports.

Abdurrahman Tutdere, the mayor of Adiyaman, and Zeydan Karalar, who heads Adana municipality, were detained in early morning raids, according to Anadolu Agency. Both are members of the main opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP.

The CHP mayor of Antalya, Muhittin Bocek, was arrested with two other suspects in a separate bribery investigation by the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, Anadolu reported.

CHP officials have faced waves of arrests this year that many consider aimed at neutralizing Turkey’s main opposition party. The government insists prosecutors and the judiciary act independently but the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu led to the largest street protests Turkey has seen in more than a decade.

Turkiye arrested three opposition mayors from the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Zeydan Karalar, Muhittin Böcek, and Abdurrahman Tutdere in a graft investigation, prompting accusations of a “political operation” by the CHP and DEM parties.

The arrests targeted Adana Mayor Zeydan Karalar, Antalya Mayor Muhittin Böcek, and Adıyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere, linked to probes into tender rigging and bribery, per Anadolu Agency. Antalya’s investigation also involved Böcek’s son, while Istanbul’s deputy mayor, Ahmet Şahin, was detained. The CHP, fresh off its 2024 local election wins, denounced the moves as politically motivated, following the March 2025 jailing of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, which sparked protests.

Turkey detains three more mayors in latest opposition arrests

➡️ https://t.co/AgZ8fi8FYW pic.twitter.com/SFStxj98AC — FRANCE 24 (@FRANCE24) July 5, 2025

The arrests escalate tensions between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s AKP and the CHP, led by Özgür Özel, a rising 2028 presidential contender. Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş stated on X, “We will not bow to injustice,” with 500,000 engagements. A concurrent probe threatens Özel’s leadership, per BirGun.

Adana Büyükşehir Belediye Başkanımız Zeydan Karalar, Antalya Büyükşehir Belediye Başkanımız Muhittin Böcek ve Adıyaman Belediye Başkanımız Abdurrahman Tutdere Aziz İhsan Aktaş’ın iftiraları nedeniyle gözaltına alındı. Bu durum

hukukun ne yazık ki kimlere nasıl işlediğini bir kez… — Mansur Yavaş (@mansuryavas06) July 5, 2025

The DEM party, allied with Erdoğan on Kurdish peace talks ending a 40,000-death conflict, called the arrests a blow to democracy, per Tulay Hatimogullari’s X post.

Seçilmişlere, Türkiye halklarına yapılan bu eziyetten vazgeçilmelidir.

Adıyaman Belediye Başkanı Abdurrahman Tutdere, Adana Büyükşehir Belediye Başkanı Zeydan Karalar ve Antalya Büyükşehir Belediye Başkanı Muhittin Böcek’in gözaltına alınmasını kabul etmiyoruz.

Halkın sandıkta… — Tülay Hatimoğulları (@TulayHatim) July 5, 2025

The crackdown follows 120 arrests in Izmir, a CHP stronghold, signalling Erdoğan’s pressure on opposition gains, as the CHP controls 21 of 81 provinces, according to 2024 election data. Social media on X, with posts like “Erdoğan targets CHP to crush 2028 hopes,” reflects public outrage. The moves risk deepening societal rifts, especially after the Kurdish peace process, and could impact Turkey’s 85 million citizens and EU relations, according to Al-Monitor.

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The arrests of CHP mayors highlight Turkiye’s political polarisation, threatening democratic trust as the 2028 elections loom. With 1.2 million protesters in March 2025, according to Hürriyet, the crackdown fuels unrest and global scrutiny. Trending on X, these events spark debates on justice and governance, shaping Turkiye’s political landscape and opposition resilience amid economic and regional challenges.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continues his crackdown on the political opposition. | Romon Van Flymen/EPA

Saturday’s arrests come four months after the mayor of Istanbul, considered Erdoğan’s main political opponent, was jailed over corruption allegations.

The mayors of three Turkish cities were arrested Saturday morning, according to media reports, as Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan continues his crackdown on the political opposition.

All three of the mayors belong to Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP).

Abdurrahman Tutdere, Zeydan Karalar, and Muhittin Böcek were arrested as part of investigations launched by the public prosecutor’s office in Istanbul, Turkish state-run media reported. They are the mayors of Adiyaman, Adana municipality and Antalya, respectively.

Turkey arrests 3 mayors in widening crackdown

AP, ISTANBUL

The mayors of three major cities in southern Turkey were arrested yesterday, state-run media reported, joining a growing list of opposition figures detained since the mayor of Istanbul was imprisoned in March.

Abdurrahman Tutdere, the mayor of Adiyaman, and Zeydan Karalar, who heads Adana municipality, were detained in early morning raids, according to Anadolu Agency. Both are members of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).

The CHP mayor of Antalya, Muhittin Bocek, was arrested with two other suspects in a separate bribery investigation by the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, Anadolu said.

A supporter holds a flag of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and the First President of Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk at a rally protesting the 100th day of Imamoglu’s detention, in Istanbul on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Karalar was arrested in Istanbul and Tutdere was arrested in the capital, Ankara, where he has a home. Tutdere wrote on social media that he was being taken to Istanbul.

Ten people, including Karalar and Tutdere, were arrested as part of an investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office into allegations involving organized crime, bribery and bid-rigging.

Details of the charges against them were not immediately released by prosecutors, but the operation follows the arrests of scores of officials from municipalities controlled by the CHP in recent months.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, widely considered the main challenger to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ’s 22-year rule, was jailed four months ago over corruption allegations.

The former CHP mayor of Izmir, Turkey’s third-largest city, and 137 municipal officials were detained earlier this week as part of an investigation into alleged tender-rigging and fraud. On Friday, ex-mayor Tunc Soyer and 59 others were jailed pending trial in what Soyer’s lawyer described as “a clearly unjust, unlawful and politically motivated decision.”

Also on Friday, it was reported by state-run media that the CHP mayor of Manavgat, a Mediterranean resort city in Antalya province, and 34 others were detained over alleged corruption.

CHP officials have faced waves of arrests this year that many consider aimed at neutralizing Turkey’s main opposition party. The government insists prosecutors and the judiciary act independently, but the arrest of Istanbul’s Imamoglu led to the largest street protests Turkey has seen in more than a decade.

Imamoglu was officially nominated as his party’s presidential candidate following his imprisonment. Turkey’s next election is due in 2028, but could come sooner.

The crackdown comes a year after the CHP made significant gains in local elections. Adiyaman, which was severely affected by the 2023 earthquake, was among several cities previously considered strongholds for Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party to fall to the opposition.