Kuşadası Mayor Ömer Günel was arrested Monday, March 16, 2026, as part of a probe into alleged bribery and extortion connected to the Kuşadası municipality. The arrests of Günel and five others signal a widening investigation into potential corruption within the local government.
Authorities completed processing the six individuals – including Günel, Planning and Urbanization Director Ahmet Taşkan, Construction Control Manager Mustafa Burak Gündeş, municipal architect and city planner Meral Celep, businessman and former Kuşadasıspor Club President Ferdi Zenginoğlu, and businessman Hüseyin Kabasakal – at police headquarters before transferring them to the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan, according to reports.
ARREST REQUEST
Prosecutors sought the arrest of Mayor Günel, Construction Control Manager Burak Gündeş, and Planning and Urbanization Director Ahmet Taşkan on charges of accepting bribes. City Planner Meral Celep, former Kuşadasıspor Club President Ferdi Zenginoğlu, and businessman Hüseyin Kabasakal were requested to be arrested for complicity in bribery, officials said.
ÖMER GÜNEL ARRESTED
Following the prosecutor’s request, Kuşadası Mayor Ömer Günel, Construction Control Manager Burak Gündeş, City Planner Meral Celep, former Kuşadasıspor Club President Ferdi Zenginoğlu, and businessman Hüseyin Kabasakal were taken into custody.
Planning and Urbanization Director Ahmet Taşkan was released under judicial control, pending further investigation.
CHP CONDEMNS ARREST
Gökhan Zeybek, Deputy Chairman of the CHP, strongly criticized Günel’s arrest, stating on social media, “Don’t think this will continue, THE PEOPLE will have their say! You have arrested our Kuşadası Mayor Ömer Günel based on empty claims and the words of a slanderous liar.”
Zeybek continued, “Our NATION, which is in turmoil, is waiting for the ballot box. The more your oppression increases, the easier your departure will be. Our struggle against injustice and evil will continue until the end. We will win.”

.
Sanmayın ki bu devran böyle gider,
HALKIN dediği olacak❗️Altı boş iddialarla, MUHTERİS bir iftiracının sözleriyle Kuşadası Belediye Başkanımız Ömer Günel’i tutukladınız.
İçinde fırtınalar kopan MİLLETİMİZ bir an önce o sandığın gelmesini bekliyor. Zulmünüz arttıkça gidişiniz… https://t.co/BRmA7GBZcS
— Gökan Zeybek (@gokanzeybekCHP) March 16, 2026
İMAMOĞLU: YOU CONTINUE YOUR EVIL EVEN ON THIS BLESSED NIGHT
Ekrem İmamoğlu, the CHP’s presidential candidate currently detained at the Marmara Prison, also reacted to Günel’s arrest. In a message posted to the “Cumhurbaşkanlığı Aday Ofisi” (Presidential Candidate Office) social media account, İmamoğlu stated, “You continue your evil even on this blessed night. Our Kuşadası Mayor Ömer Günel is being held in custody in Istanbul, 500 km from his home, and is now arrested. Was the Turkish Prosecutor’s Office just established? arrest should be the exception, but today, release is the exception.”
Bu mübarek gecede bile kötülüğünüze devam ediyorsunuz.
Kuşadası Belediye Başkanımız Ömer Günel, evinden 500 km uzakta, İstanbul’da gözaltında tutuluyor, tutuklanıyor. Türkiye Savcılığı kuruldu da haberimiz mi yok?
Üstelik tutuklama istisna olmalıyken bugün tutuksuzluk istisna…
— Cumhurbaşkanlığı Aday Ofisi (@CAOIletisim1) March 16, 2026
“I WILL NEVER GIVE UP THE FIGHT AGAINST EVIL”
Prior to his arrest, Kuşadası Mayor Ömer Günel released a statement on social media claiming the accusations against him were false.
Günel said, “My dear citizens; I will never give up the fight against injustice, conspiracy, and evil. Our services to Kuşadası have disturbed someone who has devoted their life to ‘office.’ Actually, this struggle against evil has been going on for a long time. I am free in an area of 6 square meters, and my conscience is clear. But believe me and trust me that those who slander me and my friends will never be free in the public conscience, they will be convicted.”
“ONE OF ÇERÇİOĞLU’S TRANSFER FEES…”
Bülent Tezcan, General Coordinator of the Presidential Candidate Office and Aydın Deputy, commented on the arrest, referencing Aydın Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Özlem Çerçioğlu.
Tezcan stated that Günel’s detention was “a conspiracy investigation against Ömer Günel, who is loved by Kuşadası and is among our successful mayors in Turkey, like all CHP mayors. Apparently, one of the transfer fees for Çerçioğlu, who defected to the AK Party, is to take Ömer Günel’s head. The plan and calculation for this are being seen here today.”
