Three Opposition Mayors Arrested in Turkey Amid Corruption Allegations

Turkish authorities have detained three mayors affiliated with the country's largest opposition party, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing crackdown on the Republican People's Party (CHP). The mayors from the cities of Antalya, Adiyaman, and Adana are accused of corruption, according to reports by the state broadcaster TRT.

The arrests occurred early in the morning during police raids, with Abdurrahman Tutdere, the mayor of Adiyaman, and Zeydan Karalar, the mayor of Adana, among those taken into custody. The prosecution claims that evidence against them was supplied by a businessman who had previously been arrested for leading a criminal organization and for bribery. Allegations suggest that the mayors solicited illicit financial advantages from corporate executives engaged in business with their municipalities.

In Adana, protests erupted as citizens expressed their outrage over the arrests, demanding the resignation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government. The cities involved are significant urban centers in Turkey, with Adana housing approximately 1.7 million residents, Adiyaman about 230,000, and the popular tourist destination Antalya boasting a population of 2.6 million.

Since October of the previous year, hundreds of CHP members have faced legal scrutiny, including a total of 14 mayors. The accused deny the corruption allegations, asserting that the investigations are politically motivated, a claim that the government vehemently disputes.

The recent arrests follow the detention of Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, who has been recognized as Erdogan's principal political rival. Imamoglu was placed in pre-trial detention earlier this year under similar corruption charges, which sparked widespread protests across Turkey, marking the largest demonstrations the country has seen in a decade.