Turkey has launched an investigation against hundreds of officials in the opposition-run Istanbul municipality, accusing them of links to militant groups, sparking strong criticism of the city’s mayor.
Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu comes from the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), and is considered a possible opponent of President Tayyip Erdogan.
Following a failed military coup in 2016, Turkey has investigated and tried tens of thousands of people it accuses of links to militants in a crackdown that human rights groups say is being used as a pretext to crack down on dissent. The government has said its actions are necessary given the seriousness of the threats facing Turkey.
The interior ministry said on Twitter on Sunday that it had launched an investigation into 455 municipal employees and companies accused of links to Kurdish fighters, along with at least 100 allegedly linked to leftists and other organizations.
Interior Minister Suleiman Soilou said the investigation was not directed against the city council.
“Our job has nothing to do with anyone’s town hall. Our job has to do with the fight against terrorism and we must keep Turkey vigilant,” Soilou told reporters.
Soylu said those targeted “are not exactly the ones cleaning and sweeping the streets” but could include some in higher positions.
Imamoglu criticized the ministerial announcement, given via Twitter, saying that the investigators have already been tried.
“You give a number (of suspects) and issue a verdict and then start an investigation,” Imamoglou told reporters. “What kind of investigation is this? If you have come to a decision then you pull them by the ear to jail.”
Imamoglu said the ministry did not provide information on those investigating, two weeks after Soilou first referred to them, adding that the municipality’s recruitment procedures include checking the applicants’ criminal records.
Polls suggest Erdogan’s approval ratings have fallen to a six-year low and he could lose to opponents in the 2023 presidential election.
Imamoglu took office in 2019 after defeating Erdogan’s candidate in the AK Party. Although he is considered a potential presidential candidate for Erdogan, he told Reuters this month that his only concern is doing his job as mayor.
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