İmamoğlu is the main political rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and has been nominated as the CHP’s candidate for the country’s 2028 presidential election. He denies wrongdoing and says his jailing is politically motivated.
His opposition party has steadily risen in popularity, performing well in regional elections last year, winning a fiercely fought mayoral election in Istanbul in part by turning districts traditionally held by Erdoğan’s ruling Islamist party. In those elections, the CHP also won Turkey’s capital, Ankara, as well as Izmir, Bursa and Adana, pushing its support to 37. 8 percent nationwide and capturing 35 of 81 provinces.
While Erdoğan’s government insists the arrests aren’t politically motivated, rights groups say they’re meant to stop the CHP’s growing influence.
İmamoğlu’s arrest in March sparked massive protests, which Ankara suppressed with thousands of arrests. Since then, Turkish authorities have arrested dozens more opposition figures.
