The Council of Europe has demanded the “immediate” release of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu following a meeting with the political opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in detention.
“After our extensive discussion with Mr. Imamoglu, we remain convinced that it is unacceptable in a state governed by the rule of law to deprive Istanbul of its elected mayor by holding him without trial or valid charges,” stated the delegation in a communiqué following the meeting.
The communiqué did not specify the exact date of the meeting with Mr. Imamoglu, but noted that the official visit to Turkey by the delegation, led by Belgian Marc Cools, President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, took place on 5 and 6 May.
The delegation was the “first international group to meet Mayor Imamoglu following his arrest” on 19 March and expressed gratitude to Turkish authorities for facilitating the meeting.
Mr. Imamoglu is currently held in Silivri Prison, located west of Istanbul.
“The arrest of local officials and the replacement of elected representatives without due process or evidence-based trials undermine fundamental democratic principles,” the communiqué criticised.
Additionally, it stressed that “terrorism allegations cannot, under any circumstances, justify replacing mayors with government appointees, as these actions undermine the will of the citizens expressed at the ballot box.”
The delegation also expressed concern over “reports of fundamental freedoms being violated against protesters following the mayor’s arrest.”
Ekrem Imamoglu was detained on the same day he was selected as the presidential candidate for the main opposition party (CHP, social-democrat) for the 2028 elections, facing charges of “corruption,” which have sparked widespread anger.
Although the large protests of the first week, with tens of thousands gathering nightly outside Istanbul City Hall, have subsided, the CHP continues to fuel the dissent.
The Council of Europe, comprising 46 countries including Turkey, serves as a watchdog for human rights and democracy across the continent.
