Istanbul mayor’s jailing casts doubt on Turkey’s Kurdish peace bid

DIYARBAKIR-AMED, Turkey’s Kurdish region,— The recent arrest of Istanbul’s mayor has raised concerns about Turkey’s ongoing efforts to resolve the decades-long conflict with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), as the government’s fragile cooperation with the pro-Kurdish DEM Party faces new challenges.

Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key political rival of President Tayyip Erdogan, was taken into custody last week, prompting fears of increasing political repression. Many Kurds worry that his detention signals a crackdown that could disrupt efforts for reconciliation.

“This move damages trust in the peace process,” said Ali Okal, a 57-year-old construction worker attending the Newroz festival in Diyarbakir (Amed), the largest Kurdish city in Turkish Kurdistan (Bakur) in the country’s southeast. “They talk about democracy, but then they arrest Imamoglu.”

Tens of thousands gathered in Diyarbakir for the annual festival, where many wore traditional Kurdish colors of red, green, and yellow, dancing in circles and chanting in support of Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK’s jailed leader.

Ocalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999, recently called for the PKK to lay down arms and dissolve itself. However, Imamoglu’s detention on charges related to alleged ties to the group has cast uncertainty over the process. His arrest has also sparked protests across Turkey.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), addresses his supporters Istanbul, January 31, 2025. Photo: Reuters

The charges against Imamoglu stem from his alliance with the DEM Party during the 2024 local elections, which prosecutors claim enabled PKK-linked figures to gain influence in municipal positions. The pro-Kurdish party, the third-largest in parliament, has long been accused of links to the PKK, though it denies the allegations.

DEM lawmakers have voiced deep concerns over the mayor’s detention. “People are worried. This undermines both democratization and peace,” said Mehmet Zeki Irmez, a DEM lawmaker in Sirnak, a province near the Iraqi border that has seen heavy clashes since the PKK launched its insurgency in 1984.

Meanwhile, officials from Erdogan’s ruling AK Party downplayed the impact of Imamoglu’s case on the broader reconciliation efforts. “The investigation into the mayor is a separate issue,” said Omer Iler, the AK Party’s Diyarbakir chief. “Some may try to use this situation to disrupt peace efforts, but the people will not be misled.”

Erdogan has dismissed opposition criticism, accusing Imamoglu’s party of using the case to divert attention from its own failures. His nationalist ally, Devlet Bahceli, has suggested that the PKK hold a congress in May to officially disband.

The detention of Imamoglu, a leading opposition figure, highlights the broader political stakes of the Kurdish peace process. Ebru Gunay, a senior DEM official, argued that the arrest illustrates the need for greater democracy in Turkey.

“The events in Istanbul prove that this country is in desperate need of real democratic reforms,” she told Reuters.

The ongoing legal battle centers on the “Urban Consensus,” an electoral alliance between DEM and Imamoglu’s Republican People’s Party (CHP) during the 2024 local elections. Authorities claim the pact allowed individuals with alleged PKK links to secure municipal positions.

For years, pro-Kurdish parties have faced crackdowns, with many of their elected mayors replaced by state-appointed officials. DEM maintains that these accusations are politically motivated.

“The government’s broad definition of terrorism is being used as a tool against the opposition,” Gunay said. “First, they targeted Kurdish politicians. Now they are going after the rest of the opposition. Who will be next?”

As Turkey grapples with the aftermath of Imamoglu’s arrest, questions remain over whether the government’s fragile peace efforts can withstand the growing political tensions.

(With files from Reuters | Agencies)