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European Calls for the Release of Istanbul's Mayor

Several mayors from European cities have demanded the release of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Greater Istanbul, after he was arrested along with dozens of others on charges related to "corruption" and "aiding a terrorist organization." The Turkish opposition has described this move as a "coup."
In a joint statement, mayors from several European capitals, including Amsterdam, Paris, Milan, Barcelona, Rome, Helsinki, Ghent, Utrecht, and Brussels, condemned İmamoğlu’s arrest, who is considered a potential rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan by many in Turkey. European officials expressed their "deep concern" regarding this arrest, calling it "arbitrary detention" that violates fundamental rights and municipal freedoms in Turkey.
The statement affirmed that the detention of İmamoğlu, in addition to the pressures exerted on elected local officials, represents a violation of democratic principles in the country. It emphasized that "Ekrem İmamoğlu, a democratically elected leader, is a symbol of hope for a future Turkey based on pluralism, justice, and the rule of law," with calls for his "immediate release" and the "dismissal of all legal proceedings" against him.
The International Association of Francophone Mayors and the Network of European Cities also pledged to support efforts to "respect democratic freedoms and human rights in Turkey."
In a related context, Turkish authorities launched a widespread campaign of arrests in Istanbul on Wednesday, targeting İmamoğlu, which has raised tensions in the country's political landscape. The opposition described this step as a "coup against the next president." In a statement from the Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office, İmamoğlu, a member of the opposition "Republican People's Party," was described as a "leader of a criminal organization," and his university degree was canceled.
The campaign has included 106 other detainees, including sub-mayors and journalists, who are being investigated in two separate cases, one related to charges of corruption and "forming a criminal organization" and the other concerning "aiding a terrorist organization."
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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