Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested by the Turkish authorities on charges of terrorism and corruption. The move comes days before İmamoğlu's Republican People's Party (CHP) is set to hold presidential candidate elections on Sunday, in which İmamoğlu is the only candidate, Euronews reported, quoted by IPN.

According to the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office, İmamoğlu supported the work of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) "by participating in urban consensus in order to increase the efficiency of the terrorist organization in metropolitan areas."

İmamoğlu is suspected of aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) by allying with the Peoples' Freedom and Democracy Party (DEM). The PKK has waged a decades long insurgency within Turkey and is designated a terrorist organization by Ankara, Washington and other Turkish allies.

"I love you all very much, I entrust myself to my nation. Let everyone know that I will stand," the mayor of Istanbul said in a video, posted on social media in response to the accusations brought against him.

He was detained among 100 others, including his close aide Murat Ongun and election campaign manager Necati Özkan.

İmamoğlu and his advisers are accused of corruption, including soliciting bribes and extortion.

Government officials said the courts work independently and rejected allegations that the arrests are political in character.

Photo source: www.cumhuriyet.com.tr