Turkish columnist:  Imamoglu’s  real crime is to campaign against Canal Istanbul

Columnist for Yeni Yasam Daily, Ms. Muruvvet Kucuk argues that Ekrem Imamoglu is  kept in prison because he is an outspoken opponent of arguably Erdogan’s biggest and most wasteful “mega-project” Canal Istanbul, an artificial waterway connecting Black Sea to Marmara to ease traffic in Bosphorus. She goes further to claim that the second mass arrests in the Istanbul Municipality graft probe largely targeted those in charge of city planning.

These are the highlights from her article

The article argues that the recent detention of Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (İSKİ) officials — including its director — and the broader crackdown on Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) are part of a politically motivated effort to neutralize Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and remove opposition to the controversial Kanal Istanbul project. It emphasizes that İmamoğlu’s resistance to Kanal Istanbul, particularly his administration’s legal attempt to stop luxury housing developments near Sazlıdere Dam, was a key trigger for the operation.

Key points:

The arrest of İSKİ officials is framed as an indirect way of appointing a de facto trustee (kayyım) to İBB after public backlash made direct appointment politically costly.

The real motive behind this crackdown is presented as clearing the way for the Kanal Istanbul project, long championed by President Erdoğan as a “crazy dream.”

Sazlıdere Dam, a vital water source for Istanbul, is highlighted as strategically important. New construction near it is seen as a precursor to broader development aligned with Kanal Istanbul.

The article claims the government aims to lure Arab investors by selling luxury housing in the area, disguised under the label of social housing, to generate revenue amid deepening economic crisis and privatization fatigue.

Expert Report Warns Canal Istanbul Will Irreversibly Damage Water Sources and Forests

It heavily criticizes the government for disregarding environmental risks, especially given Sazlıdere’s location in a seismically active, liquefaction-prone area vulnerable to tsunamis and landslides.

The piece draws a broader picture of an authoritarian, profit-driven state that treats both human life and nature as expendable, reminiscent of the February 6 earthquakes and the lack of public safety infrastructure during recent tremors in Istanbul.

In essence, the article portrays İmamoğlu’s punishment not as isolated legal action, but as a politically driven move to dismantle institutional opposition to a hazardous, profit-oriented megaproject that endangers both Istanbul’s water supply and public safety.

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