US State Department comments on Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu detainment

A State Department presser on Wednesday commented on the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The messages relayed include encouraging Türkiye to “respect human rights.” Yet Tammy Bruce, the spokesperson for the State Department, also mentioned that the US, “will not comment on the internal decision-marking processes of another country.”

“We simply remind that we expect them to act in a manner that respects the rights of all their citizens. This is already very clear, but it’s good to repeat.”

Arrest of Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu

One hundred and six people were detained in Istanbul on Wednesday as part of three separate investigations. Among those detained are high-profile individuals such as Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, artist Ercan Saatci, and journalist Ismail Saymaz.

The investigations cover various issues, including corruption, terrorism, and the 2013 Gezi Park protests.