Turkish authorities detained Sinem Dedetas, the opposition mayor of Istanbul's Uskudar district, along with five other individuals on Wednesday amidst allegations of irregularities concerning building and occupancy permits. The detentions mark the latest development in an intensified legal crackdown targeting municipalities led by the main opposition party to President Tayyip Erdogan.
Broadcaster NTV reported that alongside Mayor Dedetas, the detained individuals include a deputy district mayor, a secretary, an architect, a business agent, and a contractor. The detentions followed coordinated police raids conducted across eleven addresses in Istanbul, during which digital materials were reportedly seized from the suspects.
According to NTV, the Uskudar municipality is alleged to have facilitated the approval of building permits through a system that required contractors to enter into consultancy contracts as a prerequisite for obtaining such permits.
Representatives of the opposition have consistently denied the wave of allegations, which have become more frequent since 2024, asserting that these investigations are politically motivated. The Turkish government, however, maintains that the country's judiciary operates independently.
