Opposition arrests expand in Turkey amid ongoing crackdown

Former Izmir mayor among those detained as legal pressure moves beyond Istanbul.
Text: Óscar Ontañón Docal
Published 2025-07-01

The latest news on Turkey. Turkish authorities have extended their legal campaign against the opposition to the western city of Izmir early on Tuesday, detaining a significant number of figures including a former mayor and local party leaders.

"We woke up to another dawn operation today," Murat Bakan, an Izmir MP, said on X. "We are facing a process similar to what happened in Istanbul," he said, adding that it appeared to be "a judicial system acting on instructions".

The operation, reportedly tied to allegations of corruption and fraud, mirrors earlier waves of arrests in Istanbul and has intensified concerns about political interference in the judiciary. Meanwhile, the opposition maintains the charges are politically motivated.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the participants of the 76th UN General Assembly proceedings at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly Hall. New York, USA. 21.09.2021

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