DJ Mabbas among 106 jailed following controversial investigation into Erdogan rival İmamoğlu

This article was originally published by Mixmag MENA, you can read it here.

Turkish DJ and leader of Istanbul's Culture Department, DJ Mabbas, is confirmed to be among the 106 people detained as part of a controversial investigation into Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

According to BBC News Turkey, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office arrested İmamoğlu and over one hundred others as part of a raid on Wednesday (March 19); İmamoğlu has been accused of "establishing and managing a criminal organisation", "taking bribes" and other offences.

Among those held in custody alongside the Mayor is Murat Abbas, who leads the municipality's cultural arm and is also known for his presence behind the decks as DJ Mabbas.

The detentions and details of the investigation surfaced in Turkish media outlets just a day after Istanbul University announced the cancellation of Ekrem İmamoğlu's degree, since then Turkey has seen widespread political turmoil — as sweeping investigations into Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, centred on controversial allegations of “corruption” and “terrorism."

Protests in Istanbul against Erdogan entered their fifth night yesterday (March 23), with Sky News reporting that over 1,000 people have been arrested in connection with the unrest.

Ekrem İmamoğlu, seen by many as the opposition’s strongest candidate to challenge incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the upcoming presidential race, is at the centre of what critics have described as a "coup attempt" by Erdogan's party.

Following a court appearance yesterday (March 23), both İmamoğlu and Mabbas were jailed in connection with the ongoing case. Turkey's main opposition, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), has labelled the verdict “not law, this is not justice, this is a straightforward political coup.”

Observers fear that Erdogan’s next move could involve appointing government trustees to replace the elected management of both the municipality and the CHP, which backs İmamoğlu.

İmamoğlu previously weathered attempts to block his election as Istanbul Mayor, winning two consecutive races, each time increasing his vote share against Erdogan’s ruling party. Under Ekrem İmamoğlu’s leadership, the municipality made notable strides in supporting Turkey’s cultural sector, particularly during the pandemic.

One such initiative was launched to provide economic relief to struggling musicians during lockdown. The programme was a landmark moment, marking the first time in Turkey that a local government directly engaged the music industry amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Murat Abbas played a key role in spearheading the initiative, ensuring DJs were also included in the cultural programming. Before his role at the municipality, Abbas served as General Manager of Zorlu Performing Arts Centre, one of Istanbul’s most prominent venues and the local host of Sónar Istanbul.

Onur Ates is the Managing Director of Mixmag Turkey and Mixmag MENA, follow him on Instagram