Türkiye dismisses main opposition party’s Sisli mayor in Istanbul, appoints trustee

Turkish authorities have removed the mayor of Istanbul’s Sisli district from office and appointed a government trustee in his place, the Interior Ministry announced Sunday.

Mayor Resul Emrah Sahan was arrested on charges of “aiding an armed terrorist organization,” according to a statement from the ministry.

Following his detention, district governor Cevdet Erturkmen was appointed to replace him as acting mayor.

The Interior Ministry’s statement specified that Sahan was taken into custody following a decision by the Istanbul 10th Criminal Court of Peace dated March 23, 2025, with inquiry number 2025/348.

“Istanbul District Mayor Resul Emrah Sahan has been arrested on charges of ‘Aiding an Armed Terrorist Organization’ based on the Istanbul 10th Criminal Court of Peace decision dated 23.03.2025 and inquiry number 2025/348; he has been removed from office by the Ministry of Interior as a temporary measure in accordance with Article 127 of the Constitution and Article 47 of Municipal Law No. 5393,” the ministry statement declared.

The ministry cited constitutional and legal provisions as the basis for the removal, describing it as a “temporary measure” under Article 127 of the Turkish Constitution and Article 47 of Municipal Law No. 5393.

Erturkmen’s appointment as the trustee was made by the Istanbul Governorship in accordance with Articles 45 and 46 of the same municipal law, the statement added.

The arrest and subsequent removal appear to be related to an investigation referred to as “kent uzlasisi” (urban reconciliation), according to Turkish media reports, though specific details about this investigation were not included in the official statement.

Sisli is an important central district in Istanbul known for its commercial and business centers.