Istanbul Projects in Limbo as Mayor, City Officials Locked Up
Also today: What England’s new national cycling network needs to get rolling, and an explainer on gerrymandering.
The ongoing detention of Istanbul leaders could have wide-ranging potential impacts for Istanbul and its 16 million residents.
Photographer: Alexander Spatari/Moment RF via Getty Images
Over 100 Istanbul officials have been detained since mid-March, including Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who was arrested just days before he planned to announce his run for Turkey’s president. Their arrests, seen by many as a crackdown on political dissent by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, have not only disrupted day-to-day governance but also stalled critical projects — including those aimed at fortifying the city against earthquakes.
Meanwhile, the central government is advancing its push for Kanal Istanbul, a multibillion-dollar canal project that stands to strain the region’s resources. It had been strongly opposed by Imamoglu, who referred to it as “a dagger intended to be thrust into the city’s heart.” Read more from contributor Jennifer Hattam today on CityLab: Major Istanbul Projects Are Stalling as City Leaders Sit in Jail