Mayoral Arrests Escalate Political Tensions in Turkiye

In a significant political development, several opposition mayors in southern Turkiye were arrested, as reported by state-run media sources over the weekend. The move comes amid escalating tensions following the jailing of Istanbul's mayor in March and highlights a growing trend of opposition figures facing legal challenges.

Early Saturday, police detained Abdurrahman Tutdere, the mayor of Adiyaman, and Zeydan Karalar, Adana's municipal leader, in orchestrated raids. Both officials are key figures in the Republican People's Party (CHP), which has seen an uptick in detentions that many perceive as targeting the opposition. The Turkish government insists on judicial independence despite allegations to the contrary.

Investigations allege that Karalar and Tutdere, along with other arrested individuals, were involved in organized crime including bribery and bid-rigging. These arrests seem to be part of a broader governmental crackdown on CHP-controlled municipalities, raising alarms among party leadership and fueling public demonstrations against perceived government overreach.

(With inputs from agencies.)