Opposition Mayor Detained in Turkey Amid Wave of Operations Against Municipalities

A third wave of operations targeting municipalities has resulted in the detention of Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş, continuing a pattern of scrutiny against opposition-held local governments in Istanbul. The detentions have drawn sharp criticism from the Yeni Parti (New Party).

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The number of operations against the municipalities we won in the March 31 local elections in Istanbul, including the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, has reached 16.

Gökan Zeybek, an Istanbul Member of Parliament for Yeni Parti, condemned the operation, stating that the number of such operations against municipalities won in the March 31 local elections has reached 16, including the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Zeybek asserted that this pattern represents the current administration's attempt to impose its will when election results are not in its favor.

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This order is applying its own understanding of democracy against results that our people did not accept at the ballot box. Your elections and your votes are clearly underestimated by this government.

"Sinem Dedetaş's only 'crime' is having won Üsküdar, a district crucial to the ruling party," Zeybek stated on social media. He highlighted that Dedetaş had repeatedly questioned how the municipality accumulated 1.3 billion Turkish Lira in debt during the previous AK Party administration. Zeybek further argued that her "crime" was ending the occupation of public spaces along the Üsküdar coast, which had persisted for years, and cutting off funds flowing to foundations.

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Sinem Dedetaş's only 'crime' is having won a district like Üsküdar, which is most important to the ruling party. Our Mayor Sinem repeatedly asked... How did Üsküdar Municipality incur a debt of 1.3 billion TL during the AK Party era? This question still stands!

Zeybek praised Dedetaş for bringing a "people-centric, social municipalism" to Üsküdar after 30 years and for working successfully despite difficulties. He concluded by stating that these operations do not halt the erosion of public support for the ruling party and predicted a greater electoral defeat in response to these "unlawful actions."

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Her only 'crime' was ending the order that occupied public spaces on the Üsküdar coast for years, along with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. She cut off the money flowing to foundations.