Turkey detains 40 in corruption probe

Turkish authorities have detained 40 people, including the mayor of Istanbul’s central Beyoğlu district, as part of an ongoing corruption investigation, state broadcaster TRT Haber reported on Friday.

Beyoğlu Mayor İnan Güney, from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), is the 16th opposition mayor taken into custody in the past year. According to official figures, more than 500 people have been detained over the same period in similar operations.

Among those already in prison is Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, the most prominent opposition figure and a key political rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. İmamoğlu is facing charges of corruption and alleged links to terrorism, which he and the CHP strongly deny. Government officials reject claims that the investigations are politically motivated.

TRT Haber said the latest detentions are linked to allegations of fraudulent activity involving companies connected to the Istanbul municipality. Arrest warrants were issued for 44 people in total.

The development came a day after CHP mayor Özlem Çerçioğlu, from the western city of Aydın, announced she was joining the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), citing disagreements with her party’s leadership. CHP chair Özgür Özel alleged — without providing evidence — that Çerçioğlu was pressured with the threat of legal investigations unless she switched parties. Both Çerçioğlu and AKP deputy chair Hayati Yazıcı denied the allegation.

The case adds to the political backdrop ahead of Turkey’s next electoral cycle, with opposition-led municipalities — particularly in major cities — playing an increasingly significant role in national politics.