New Wave of Opposition Suppression in Turkey: Mayors of Three Cities Arrested

The mayors of three major Turkish cities have been arrested. They were detained in separate operations today, Saturday (July 5, 2025), in the latest crackdown on the opposition following the jailing of Istanbul's mayor last March.

Associated Press (AP) and The Times of Israel, citing Turkey's state news agency Anadolu Agency, reported that Adiyaman Mayor Abdurrahman Tutdere and Adana Metropolitan Municipality Head Zeydan Karalar were detained in pre-dawn raids. Both are members of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). Anadolu further reported that Antalya's CHP Mayor Muhittin Böcek was arrested along with two other suspects in a separate bribery investigation by the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

Karalar was arrested in Istanbul, and Tutdere in the capital Ankara. Tutdere posted on social media platform X that he was being taken to Istanbul. These events have created new tension in Turkey's political arena.