### Turkish Authorities Crack Down on Opposition with Mass Arrests

Authorities in Turkey have intensified their efforts against alleged corruption, targeting opposition members and officials in multiple cities. Recently, prosecutors in Istanbul and Adana have issued detentions for 47 individuals, successfully detaining 30 so far. Among those taken into custody are local municipal mayors and Istanbul officials, marking the latest development in a series of anti-corruption operations.

This surge in arrests represents the fifth wave of a broader campaign against the government's political adversaries, which began with the controversial imprisonment of Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. Imamoglu, a prominent figure in the Republican People's Party (CHP) and considered President Tayyip Erdogan's main rival, has been jailed since March on charges of corruption and supporting a terrorist group—allegations he firmly denies.

Imamoglu has remained vocally defiant from behind bars, recently addressing an opposition rally through a letter. "It is time to say 'enough is enough' to this unjust and unlawful order," he proclaimed, questioning the sweeping nature of the arrests. "Now you are taking our district mayors with fictitious excuses. What will you do? Where will you stop? Are you going to throw 16 million Istanbulites in jail one by one?" he asked in his letter.

The arrest of Imamoglu has galvanized public outrage, triggering mass protests and further detentions throughout Turkey. Statistics from the Istanbul prosecutor's office indicate that 819 people detained during these protests are set to face trial, divided among 20 criminal investigations. Of the estimated 110 people arrested in the first four waves, the fifth wave alone included multiple operations across two cities, targeting CHP members and city officials.

CHP Party Assembly member Baki Aydöner conveyed his own experience via social media, revealing a startling call from his wife about a detention order against him, prompting him to rush back to Istanbul from Ankara.

International human rights organizations have expressed their alarm over these developments. In March, the UN's human rights office voiced its concern about the mass arrests, while Amnesty International labeled the detentions as "draconian actions."

In an increasingly tense atmosphere, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu continues to communicate with his supporters through social media from his prison cell. With over 50,000 police officers deployed to the Turkish capital and public transport out of service, the nation remains on edge amid fresh waves of political unrest. Students, journalists, and numerous others still face trial following the recent protests, casting a long shadow over Turkey's political landscape.