Arrested and stripped of degree: Twin moves to bar Istanbul mayor from ballot suggests Turkey’s Erdogan is really worried this time
- Written by Ahmet T. Kuru, Professor of Political Science, Director of Center for Islamic & Arabic Studies, San Diego State University
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu speaks to the press on Oct. 30, 2024. Yasin Akgul/AFP via Getty Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu had expected to become Turkey’s opposition presidential nominee on March 23, 2025; instead, he lost his freedom and college degree.
On March 18, the politician – seen as a powerful rival to long-ruling Turkish...