This is CBS. I on the World. I'm John Batchel. To Istanbul, the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul by swarming authorities representing the Turkish government.

Imam Molu is the man's name. He's very popular and he's now detained by Erdogan's government. Why? I welcome Sinan Chidi of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy to introduce us to Imammolu. Again, he's been a prominent candidate for years. He was ready to run for the presidency in 28 or earlier.

But now, Senan, who is he?

What do we need to know?

Why was he arrested by a swarm of authority?

Good evening to you.

Good evening, John.

Thanks for having me.

Right.

So, you know, Turks as well as European leaders have kind of grown used to seeing the rise of Ekram Imamulu, who is currently the mayor of Turkey's largest city, approximately a city of 16 million people. And interestingly, the former position of President Taipei Erdogan, who was also mayor of Istanbul back in the late 1990s,

and that's what essentially launched his national campaign to become Turkey's prime minister

and subsequently president.

So Imam al-Wu has governed Turkey's a bit larger city.

Since 2019, he has won the mayor's race twice.

But in 2019, as well as 2024, he's pretty charismatic.

He's well known.

He's young.

And he has, you know, since becoming mayor, really used that position as a means to sort

of launch his national sort of presence and campaign for political office to challenge

by Periduan at some point

in the future. They're estimating, you know, possible early elections for the presidency, but they

really don't have to hold them until 2008. But Imam al that then the February basically said,

...