Prosecutors in Türkiye announced dozens of additional arrests on Saturday as part of a widening corruption probe that opposition leaders claim is a cover to eliminate resistance to the controversial Istanbul Canal project.
The Istanbul prosecutor’s office issued warrants for 53 individuals, with 47 already detained. The investigation targets opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who was arrested last month. Imamoglu’s party, the main opposition CHP, argues that the arrests are aimed at clearing the way for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Istanbul Canal project, which would link the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara.
At a rally, CHP Istanbul chief Ozgur Celik accused the government of reviving the project following Imamoglu’s arrest. CHP deputy chairman Gokhan Gunaydin similarly claimed that the canal project was the true motive behind the detentions, although government officials denied this, asserting that the operation stems from a March 19 corruption investigation.
From prison, Imamoglu criticized the arrests, blaming “ambitious individuals” for fabricating charges. Imamoglu’s arrest, which occurred just after he was announced as the CHP’s presidential candidate for 2028, has triggered mass protests across Türkiye, the largest since 2013.
Among those arrested are Imamoglu’s aide and brother-in-law, Kadriye Kasapoglu, and several city hall officials. Raids were reported across Ankara, Istanbul, and Tekirdag.
The canal project, originally proposed by Erdogan in 2011, aims to ease congestion in the heavily trafficked Bosphorus Strait.
Key Points:
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Event: Türkiye issues 53 arrest warrants linked to a corruption probe involving Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
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Opposition Claims: Arrests are politically motivated to advance Erdogan’s Istanbul Canal project.
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Government Response: Denies political motives; says arrests relate to an earlier corruption investigation.
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Background: Imamoglu arrested after being named CHP’s 2028 presidential candidate.
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Public Reaction: Widespread protests across Türkiye, the largest since 2013.
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Notable Arrests: Imamoglu’s aide and brother-in-law among those detained.
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Project Details: Istanbul Canal project intended to connect the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara to relieve Bosphorus congestion.
The escalating arrests in Türkiye highlight deepening political tensions as President Erdogan pushes forward with the Istanbul Canal project. Critics see the crackdown as an attempt to neutralize opposition ahead of future elections, while the government’s denials have done little to calm a public already galvanized by Imamoglu’s detention. The developments point to an increasingly volatile political climate in Türkiye as major infrastructure projects intersect with high-stakes political rivalries.
