İstanbul Court Jails Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş in Expanding Corruption Probe

An İstanbul court has ordered the pretrial detention of Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş and three others as part of an ongoing corruption investigation, marking the latest development in a widening judicial campaign targeting municipalities governed by Turkey’s main opposition. The arrests have intensified political tensions, with opposition leaders accusing the government of using the judiciary to weaken elected officials, while authorities insist the investigation is based solely on allegations of criminal misconduct.

Dedetaş, 45, who made history in 2024 as the first woman elected mayor of İstanbul’s Üsküdar district, was formally arrested on Friday alongside her chief of staff Alihan Koçoğlu, architect Burçin Çevik, and contractor Bülent Orhan Tozkoparan. The four face allegations including bribery, extortion through abuse of public office, and establishing and leading a criminal organization.

Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor Ceyhun Ünlü and business intermediary Adem Altıntaş were released under judicial supervision. Although freed pending further proceedings, both have been prohibited from leaving the country. All six individuals had been detained during coordinated police raids carried out earlier in the week.

Allegations Center on Construction Permit Process

According to the İstanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation focuses on alleged irregularities in the issuance of construction and occupancy permits within the Üsküdar Municipality.

Prosecutors claim that employees of Kent AŞ, a municipal company owned by the district administration, improperly coordinated the approval process for construction permits despite lacking the legal authority to do so. Investigators allege that the employees operated through a restricted encrypted email network and maintained color-coded spreadsheets identifying specific land parcels and construction blocks to direct municipal personnel and oversee permit approvals.

Authorities argue that these actions formed part of a broader criminal network involving bribery and abuse of official authority.

The current investigation follows earlier operations conducted in May, during which 16 individuals were placed in pretrial detention over related allegations.

Dedetaş Calls for Public Support

Before appearing in court, Dedetaş issued a message through her official Instagram account urging citizens to defend democratic principles and respect the electoral process.

In her statement, she encouraged residents to “defend their own free will and their republic,” adding that every citizen should assume responsibility in protecting democratic institutions. Describing herself as “a woman of the republic,” Dedetaş declared that she remained resolute and unafraid despite the legal proceedings.

Following the arrests, the Üsküdar Municipality released a statement urging the public to respect the presumption of innocence until the investigation concludes. Municipal officials emphasized that Dedetaş’s administration had focused on transparency, citizen participation, and equal access to public services throughout her tenure.

Opposition Condemns Judicial Action

The arrests prompted swift criticism from opposition figures.

İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has himself remained in custody since March 2025 while facing separate legal proceedings, condemned the operation in a statement issued through his presidential campaign office.

He argued that the government’s actions reflected an inability to defeat the opposition through democratic elections and instead relied on judicial measures against elected officials. His statement asserted that Turkish voters would ultimately respond through the ballot box.

International political organizations also criticized the arrests. The European Democrats described Dedetaş’s detention as part of a broader campaign targeting Turkey’s democratic opposition, stating that she had won her office through elections rather than losing public support. The group urged European institutions not to remain silent, arguing that investigations were increasingly being used to remove opposition mayors from office.

Historic Political Shift in Üsküdar

Dedetaş’s election in the March 2024 local elections represented one of the most symbolic victories for the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).

She secured approximately 49.9 percent of the vote, defeating incumbent Justice and Development Party (AKP) mayor Hilmi Türkmen, who received around 42.3 percent.

Her victory ended three decades of uninterrupted control of Üsküdar by Islamist-oriented political parties, beginning with the Welfare Party in 1994 and continuing through its successor movements, including the ruling AKP.

The result carried particular political significance because Üsküdar has long been regarded as one of İstanbul’s most conservative districts and is home to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s private residence. Dedetaş also became the district’s first female mayor.

Part of a Broader Crackdown

Dedetaş’s arrest adds to a growing list of legal actions involving municipalities governed by the CHP since the party achieved major gains in Turkey’s March 2024 local elections.

With her detention, 16 of the 27 CHP mayors elected across İstanbul—including the metropolitan mayor and district mayors—have now faced imprisonment during criminal investigations. Fourteen remain in pretrial detention, while two others who were released have not returned to office.

The opposition maintains that the investigations are politically motivated and designed to weaken the CHP by removing elected officials viewed as potential challengers to President Erdoğan’s government ahead of future elections.

The Turkish government rejects these allegations, maintaining that the judiciary functions independently and that all investigations are conducted according to legal procedures without political interference.

As judicial proceedings continue, the case is expected to remain a focal point in Turkey’s increasingly polarized political landscape, raising further debate over the balance between anti-corruption enforcement and democratic representation.