Erdogan Rival Faces Fresh Charges Amid Opposition Crackdown

A Turkish court has filed new and serious charges of “political espionage” against jailed opposition leader Ekrem Imamoglu, the popular mayor of Istanbul, whose March 2025 arrest sparked massive nationwide protests and global condemnation.

The charges, announced on Monday, stem from an ongoing investigation linking Imamoglu to a businessman detained in July on accusations of carrying out intelligence operations for foreign governments. The move marks another escalation in what critics describe as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s campaign to silence dissent ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections.

Imamoglu, a leading figure in the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and widely seen as Erdogan’s chief political rival, has denied all accusations, calling them “a shameful conspiracy.”

“Such a slander, lie and conspiracy wouldn’t even cross the devil’s mind,” Imamoglu wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “We are facing an indecency that words cannot describe.”

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Allegations of Data Misuse and Foreign Ties

According to the state-run Anadolu Agency, prosecutors claim Imamoglu illegally transferred personal data of Istanbul residents to foreign organizations in an attempt to secure international funding for his presidential campaign.

The indictment also alleges that the mayor’s office maintained contact with a businessman under investigation for espionage, though no direct evidence has been presented to the public.

Alongside Imamoglu, his former campaign manager Necati Ozkan and Merdan Yanardag, editor-in-chief of the opposition broadcaster Tele1, were also charged. The channel was seized by the state on Friday, with authorities citing the espionage accusations as justification.

The CHP has denounced the developments as part of a systematic crackdown on opposition voices, pointing to waves of arrests targeting mayors, journalists, and activists across Turkey this year.

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Public Outcry and Political Fallout

On Sunday, hundreds of supporters gathered outside Istanbul’s main courthouse as Imamoglu was brought in for questioning — his first public appearance since being imprisoned at Marmara Prison seven months ago.

Protesters waved Turkish flags and chanted “Justice for Imamoglu!” while police in riot gear surrounded the area. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned his detention, calling it politically motivated and a violation of due process.

Imamoglu was first arrested in March on corruption charges and later sentenced to prison in July for insulting and threatening the chief Istanbul prosecutor — charges his lawyers said were fabricated.

Despite the government’s denials, analysts say his continued detention is deeply symbolic of Erdogan’s tightening control over Turkey’s judiciary, media, and political opposition.

“These new charges are clearly intended to prevent Imamoglu from running for higher office,” said political analyst Ayse Karahan. “He remains the only opposition figure capable of defeating Erdogan in a national election.”

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Erdogan Denies Political Motives

The Turkish government has rejected claims of judicial interference. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan insists that the judiciary operates independently and that investigations are driven by legitimate evidence of corruption and illegal activities.

Still, opposition figures argue that the timing of the new espionage case, coming months before key local elections, is deliberate.

Meanwhile, an Ankara court on Friday dismissed a separate attempt to remove CHP leader Ozgur Ozel, another sign of political turbulence within Turkey’s largest opposition bloc.