Turkish Mayor's Arrest Sparks Controversy Amid Peace Talks

Ahmet Ozer, mayor of Istanbul's Esenyurt district, was arrested over alleged PKK links, sparking opposition backlash. This comes amid peace efforts with Kurdish militants. The CHP claims the arrest is politically motivated, urging protests. Ozer denies charges tied to a deadly attack in Ankara.

Ahmet Ozer, the mayor of Istanbul's Esenyurt district, was detained late Wednesday after Turkish prosecutors alleged he had ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a group banned as a terrorist organization in Turkey.

The arrest follows a deadly attack on Turkish defense company TUSAS in Ankara, for which the PKK claimed responsibility. Amid ongoing talks of peace with Kurdish militants, Ozer's detention has ignited a political battle. The opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), to which Ozer belongs, has denounced the charges as baseless purported attempts by the government to weaken the opposition through judicial means, urging local protests.

Ozer, a former adviser to Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and a sociology professor, denies the charges. Imamoglu, a possible future presidential contender, has criticized the arrest timing, particularly in light of recent peace initiatives by an ally of President Tayyip Erdogan. Pro-Kurdish DEM Party spokesperson Aysegul Dogan condemned the arrest, emphasizing its impact on democratic opposition.

(With inputs from agencies.)