ISTANBUL: Ahmet Ozer, the mayor of Istanbul’s Esenyurt district and a member of the main opposition Republican People’s Party, was arrested late Wednesday after prosecutors accused him of belonging to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
According to the detail, Ozer’s arrest follows a recent attack on Turkish defense company TUSAS in Ankara, which resulted in five fatalities and was claimed by the PKK. The timing of the arrest is notable as it coincides with discussions of a potential peace initiative by a close ally of President Tayyip Erdogan marking the first serious attempt in a decade to resolve Turkey’s longstanding conflict with Kurdish militants.
Ozer has denied the “terrorism-related” charges against him. In response to his arrest, the CHP has vowed to defend him, labeling the allegations as baseless and a continuation of the government’s efforts to undermine the opposition through judicial means. The party has called for protests in Esenyurt, highlighting their stance against what they perceive as political persecution.
The CHP governs Esenyurt, a municipality with a population of around one million, many of whom are immigrants. Ozer, who previously served as an adviser to Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, is viewed as a potential challenger to Erdogan in future elections. Imamoglu, who is currently appealing a prison sentence and political ban, criticized the arrest, suggesting it was a politically motivated act timed to coincide with Erdogan’s peace proposals.
Aysegul Dogan, spokesperson for the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, which is the third-largest party in parliament, condemned Ozer’s arrest, emphasizing that he was elected with their support. She argued that this action undermines the “democratic opposition” in Turkey.
The PKK has been engaged in an insurgency in southeastern Turkey for over four decades, resulting in the deaths of more than 40,000 people. Turkey’s Western allies also classify the PKK as a terrorist organization, further complicating the political landscape surrounding these events
