Former AKP official turned CHP deputy mayor arrested in Üsküdar probe

September 7, 2026 at 05:24 AM2 min

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Amine Cansu Çelik, a former AKP official who joined the CHP and became deputy mayor of Üsküdar, was arrested as part of an investigation into the municipality. Three others were detained alongside her, including the licensing director and a council member. The arrest drew sharp criticism from opposition parties, who noted Çelik has a four-year-old daughter.

Key Facts

Amine Cansu Çelik was arrested as part of an investigation into Üsküdar Municipality.
Çelik served as Üsküdar deputy mayor and municipal council member after switching from the AKP to the CHP.
Three others were arrested alongside Çelik: licensing director Burak Aydın, businessman Erdem Koyunyerli, and council member Ekrem Baki.
Çelik resigned from the AKP on 28 March 2022, citing a drift from justice and increased lack of merit.
Üsküdar Mayor Sinem Dedetaş has been in detention for 37 days, and Seyhan Mayor Oya Tekin for 460 days.

The Arrest

Amine Cansu Çelik, a former AKP official who later joined the CHP, was arrested as part of an investigation into Üsküdar Municipality. At the time of her arrest, Çelik was serving as Üsküdar deputy mayor and municipal council member. Three others were detained alongside her: licensing director Burak Aydın, businessman Erdem Koyunyerli, and council member Ekrem Baki. The arrests took place in Üsküdar, a district of Istanbul.

Political Reaction

Opposition parties, led by the YENİ Party, reacted sharply to Çelik's arrest. YENİ Party Üsküdar district chair Berk Tütüncü emphasised that Çelik has a four-year-old daughter, saying, "Amine is not just a deputy mayor; she is a mother." YENİ Party women's branch chair Asu Kaya questioned whether the law is applied equally to everyone or differently to those who do not bow to the government. Çelik's father is also known to be unwell.

Political Background

Çelik began her political career in 2015 as a member of the AKP Üsküdar neighbourhood women's branch executive board. She was elected to the AKP Üsküdar district executive board at the party's ordinary congress on 5 April 2018. In the 31 March 2019 local elections, she was elected to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Üsküdar municipal councils from the AKP. Çelik resigned from the AKP on 28 March 2022, citing a drift from justice, increased lack of merit, and the destruction of hope, especially among the youth. In the 2024 local elections, she ran as a CHP candidate for Üsküdar municipal council and was elected, later becoming deputy mayor.