Turkey’s Political Crackdown Threatens Democratic Norms and Stability

In a troubling display of authoritarian overreach, Turkish authorities have detained the mayor of Istanbul’s Bayrampasa district along with 47 officials amid allegations of corruption. This latest move is part of a broad crackdown targeting the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the nation’s main opposition force. The charges—extortion, bribery, fraud, and bid rigging—come at a politically charged moment as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks to consolidate power ahead of critical elections.Is Justice Being Used as a Political Weapon?While corruption allegations demand serious scrutiny everywhere, the pattern emerging in Turkey raises profound questions. More than a dozen CHP mayors, including Istanbul’s Ekrem...