Turkish police detained Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Wednesday morning as part of an investigation into alleged corruption links, CNN Turk reported.
Imamoglu's home was raided prior to his arrest, with warrants also issued for some 100 other people. Authorities also banned protests in the city until March 23. The mayor's detainment came just one day after Istanbul University invalidated the mayor's diploma, in a move widely seen as politically motivated.
The revocation effectively disqualifies Imamoglu, a rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, from running for president, as Turkish law requires candidates to hold a university degree in order to be eligible for the position. The university cited alleged irregularities in the mayor's academic transfer when making the decision.
