Turkish authorities arrested over 120 people in Izmir, a key opposition stronghold, on Tuesday in a sweeping graft investigation that has drawn criticism as politically motivated. The arrests came just hours before a major opposition rally in Istanbul, intensifying concerns about an ongoing crackdown on the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and its growing influence.
The early-morning operation, targeting current and former officials from the Izmir City Hall, follows a similar move in March that led to the controversial removal of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the CHP’s likely presidential candidate in 2028.
Among those detained in Izmir were former mayor Tunc Soyer and the CHP’s provincial chairman, Senol Aslanoglu. Murat Bakan, the CHP’s deputy chairman, denounced the arrests on social media platform X, calling them a “political choice” rather than a legal necessity. “These individuals are well-known public figures. If they had been summoned, they would have complied,” he said.
The Izmir prosecutor’s office has reportedly issued arrest warrants for 157 people in total. The crackdown came as the CHP prepared to mark 100 days since Imamoglu’s ousting with a rally outside Istanbul City Hall.
CHP leader Ozgur Ozel called for resistance, invoking past struggles against oppression. “There have always been those who oppress… but there has also been resistance. The victors have always been those who resist,” he wrote on X, without directly mentioning the arrests.
The developments are the latest in a series of legal and political challenges aimed at the opposition. A day before the Izmir arrests, a court in Ankara began hearing a case alleging vote-buying in the CHP’s 2023 leadership contest. The case, which could invalidate Ozel’s election as party leader, has been labelled another politically driven maneuver.
These actions follow widespread unrest earlier this year after Imamoglu’s removal, when nearly 2,000 protesters were arrested nationwide.
Coinciding with the arrests, wildfires near the western resort city of Izmir have forced the evacuation of more than 45,000 people, stretching emergency resources in the region.
