{"id":137180,"date":"2026-07-29T16:00:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T16:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/137180\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T16:00:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T16:00:13","slug":"first-female-mayor-of-former-akp-stronghold-detained-in-corruption-probe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/137180\/","title":{"rendered":"First female mayor of former AKP stronghold detained in corruption probe"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Turkish police on Wednesday detained Sinem Dedeta\u015f, the first female mayor of \u0130stanbul\u2019s \u00dcsk\u00fcdar district who ended 30 years of Islamist-based rule, and five others in a corruption investigation, the latest step in a legal crackdown on municipalities run by President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan\u2019s opponents, Turkish Minute <\/a>reported.<\/p>\n

Police carried out simultaneous raids at 11 locations across \u0130stanbul, seizing digital materials, according to Turkish media reports.<\/p>\n

Dedeta\u015f was detained along with Deputy Mayor Ceyhun \u00dcnl\u00fc, mayoral chief of staff Alihan Ko\u00e7o\u011flu, architect Bur\u00e7in \u00c7evik, business intermediary Adem Alt\u0131nta\u015f and contractor B\u00fclent Orhan Tozkoparan, the reports said.<\/p>\n

The \u0130stanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor\u2019s Office said the investigation concerns allegations of bribery, extortion through abuse of office and establishing and leading a criminal organization in connection with the issuance of construction and occupancy permits.<\/p>\n

The investigation had previously led to the pretrial detention of 16 people in two operations in May, according to the reports.<\/p>\n

\u0130stanbul Mayor Ekrem \u0130mamo\u011flu, who has been jailed since March 2025, condemned Dedeta\u015f\u2019s detention in a statement posted on his presidential campaign office\u2019s social media account.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe mentality targeting the will of the people through unlawful dawn operations has lost hope in the ballot box and is trying to cling to power through the judiciary,\u201d the statement said. \u201cBut rest assured, our 86 million citizens are counting the days until they send you away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dedeta\u015f was elected mayor in the March 2024 local elections with 49.9 percent of the vote, defeating incumbent Justice and Development Party (AKP) Mayor Hilmi T\u00fcrkmen, who received 42.3 percent.<\/p>\n

Her victory ended 30 years of uninterrupted rule by Islamist-based parties in \u00dcsk\u00fcdar, beginning with the Welfare Party in 1994 and continuing under its political successors and the AKP.<\/p>\n

Long considered a conservative stronghold, the district is also home to President Erdo\u011fan\u2019s private residence. Dedeta\u015f became \u00dcsk\u00fcdar\u2019s first female mayor.<\/p>\n

The European Democrats also condemned Dedeta\u015f\u2019s detention, describing it as part of an ongoing campaign against Turkey\u2019s democratic opposition.<\/p>\n

Sinem #Dedeta\u015f<\/a>, the young mayor of #\u00dcsk\u00fcdar<\/a>, did not lose at the ballot box. She won. However, today she was detained as part of the latest so-called corruption investigation, which is part of an ongoing campaign against #Turkey<\/a>\u2019s democratic opposition. In today\u2019s Turkey,\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/6N538w00Gb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 European Democrats (@democrats_eu) July 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cSinem Dedeta\u015f \u2026 did not lose at the ballot box. She won,\u201d the party said on X, adding that support for jailed \u0130stanbul Mayor \u0130mamo\u011flu and calls for democratic change had become grounds for political targeting.<\/p>\n

The group said elected mayors were being removed through politically motivated investigations and urged Europe not to remain silent.<\/p>\n

Dedeta\u015f\u2019s detention is the latest in a series of investigations targeting Republican People\u2019s Party (CHP)-run municipalities since the party made sweeping gains in the March 2024 local elections.<\/p>\n

The opposition says the investigations are politically motivated and intended to weaken the CHP and remove elected officials who could challenge Erdo\u011fan\u2019s government. The government denies political interference and clais Turkey\u2019s judiciary operates independently.<\/p>\n