Turkish Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday that Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Beylikdüzü Mayor Murat Çalık and Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan were suspended from office. On the other hand, Şişli District Governor Cevdet Ertürkmen was appointed as trustee to Şişli Municipality.

In the “corruption” investigation against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), 45 people, including IBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and Beylikdüzü Mayor Murat Çalık were imprisoned earlier today, while 44 people were released with a ban on leaving the country and judicial control conditions.

Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was jailed for ‘illegally recording personal data’, ‘taking bribes’, and ‘rigging tenders of public institutions and organizations’.

Beylikdüzü Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık was imprisoned on charges of ‘corruption and being a member of an organization established to commit a crime’.

Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan, on the other hand, was jailed for ‘aiding an armed terrorist organization’ and a trustee was appointed in his place. Şişli District Governor Cevdet Ertürkmen will serve as Acting Mayor of Şişli Municipality in Şahan’s place.

In the meantime, the Istanbul Governorate announced that they deemed it appropriate for Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Beylikdüzü Municipality Assemblies to convene on Wednesday, 26.03.2025 to elect the acting mayors.