Turkish newspapers react to Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s detainment

On Wednesday morning, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was detained. Alongside Imamoglu, a total of 106 individuals were also targeted in a large-scale operation.

The news of Imamoglu’s detention quickly dominated Türkiye’s newspaper headlines. Here is a list of how some of the most prominent newspapers reacted:

Aksam – “Leader of a criminal organization”

• Aksam newspaper framed the operation by associating Imamoglu with criminal activities, covering the seizure of a company he co-owned.

Aydinlik – Did not place Imamoglu on the front page

• The pro-Russia, Eurosian newspaper chose not to feature Imamoglu’s detention on its front page, instead focusing on its political leader, Dogu Perincek.

BirGun – “The palace cannot win the war it started against the whole society: These people are invincible”

• Leftist BirGun covered Imamoglu’s detention as part of a larger battle between authoritarian power and the people, criticizing the one-man rule and emphasizing street protests as a counter to the government’s actions.

Cumhuriyet – “Civil coup”

• Cumhuriyet used strong language to describe the detention, focusing on the political nature of the move, with emphasis on the cancellation of Imamoglu’s university diploma and his arrest thereafter within 12 hours.

Hurriyet – “Wave of operations in Istanbul: Imamoglu detained”

• Pro-government leaning Hurriyet presented the detention as part of a wider operation, recalling the cancellation of Imamoglu’s university diploma and highlighting the 106 people detained in connection to the mayor.

Karar – “Dawn raid on Imamoglu”

• Karar reported on the timing and dramatic nature of the operation, also mentioning the economic impact following Imamoglu’s detention.

Milliyet – “Mayor of Istanbul detained: Imamoglu Earthquake”

• Milliyet’s headline emphasized the earthquake-like impact of Imamoglu’s detention on both political circles and the public, also showing one of the first images of Imamoglu in custody.

Milli Gazete – “The biggest operation of recent times: Imamoglu and 106 people detained”

• Milli Gazete highlighted the scale of the operation, calling it one of the largest in recent memory, with Imamoglu and 106 others arrested.

Nefes – “Two separate investigations opened for supporting terrorism and being the leader of a criminal organization: Imamoglu in custody”

• Nefes placed the detention within a criminal context, linking it to investigations regarding alleged terrorism support and organized crime.

Posta – “Imamoglu detained”

• Posta’s coverage focused on statements from main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Ozgur Ozel, along with images of police barricades related to the operation.

Sabah – “Ecosystem”

• Sabah used an ambiguous headline “Ecosystem” for the operation, hinting at broader implications, though the details were less clear in the context of the headline.

Sozcu – “In the operation to block Imamoglu’s path, the diploma cancellation wasn’t enough, he was detained: First to God, then to my people I entrust myself”

• Sozcu reported on the unfolding developments, emphasizing the words of Imamoglu while noting that the diploma cancellation was just the start, followed by his detention.

Takvim – “Operation to the ecosystem”

• Similar to Sabah, Takvim used “ecosystem” to describe the operation, further contributing to the theme of systemic challenges within the political landscape.

Turkgun – “Big operation against the IBB”

• Turkgun focused on the scale of the operation targeting the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), featuring statements from Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli in relation to the event.

Türkiye Daily – “Dawn operation on Imamoglu: No one is untouchable”

• Türkiye Daily’s headline underscored the symbolic nature of the operation, stressing that nobody, regardless of their status, is beyond the reach of the law.

Yeni Safak – “Imamoglu in custody”

• Yeni Safak’s headline was concise and direct, simply stating that Imamoglu had been detained, with further details on the IBB operation.

The detention of Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul’s influential mayor, has sparked varied reactions in the Turkish media, with some newspapers framing it as a political maneuver, while others emphasizing the scale and implications of the operation.

The event continues to dominate both national and international headlines, as protests and debates unfold across the country. Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry announced the presumption of innocence until found guilty and requesting patience during the ongoing trial.