Ankara: The Head of the Turkish Presidency’s Communications Department, Fahrettin Altun, confirmed that the corruption investigations in the Istanbul Municipality and the serious charges against some of its officials are facing malicious attempts to politicize the judicial process.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, during a symposium organized by the Turkish Presidential Communications Directorate titled “Turkey’s Campaign Against Addiction in the 21st Century” in Ankara, Altun stated, “No one has the right to interfere with the independence of the judiciary and that no one is above the law.” He highlighted that those who target the Turkish judiciary are targeting the country’s integrity and the rule of law.

The Head of the Communications Directorate assured that the state would combat any mentality seeking to harm the Turkish people and democracy. Altun pointed out that excessive exposure to digital media disconnects people from real life and increases their vulnerability to misinformation that fuels hate speech.

He further remarked, “We saw a clear example of this in the corruption investigations in Istanbul. Investigations into serious allegations are being conducted by independent judicial bodies. We are facing malicious efforts to politicize the judicial process.” He also criticized the vandalism and violence in the streets, describing them as irresponsible actions that disturb public peace.

Last Sunday, the Istanbul Governorate convened the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Council and the Beylikdz District Council to elect two deputies to run the two municipalities. This move follows the suspension of their mayors, Ekrem Imamoglu and Murat ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¡alik, from their duties after a court order to detain them pending investigation on corruption charges.

Imamoglu, along with seven others, including the Assistant Secretary-General of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Mahir Polat, and the Mayor of the Sisli District Council, Resul Emre Sahan, are accused of “aiding the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).”