More than 1,000 people have been arrested in Turkey following five nights of protests against the detention of Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul. Imamoglu was taken into custody on corruption charges, which sparked demonstrations in major cities like Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir.
The protests began after Imamoglu was formally arrested on Sunday and sent to jail while awaiting trial. This led to a significant outpouring of public anger, with hundreds of thousands marching through the streets of Istanbul. Police responded with pepper spray and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds.
According to Turkey’s interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya, 1,133 individuals were detained between March 19 and March 23. He stated that violence and threats to public safety would not be tolerated. In these protests, 123 police officers were reported injured, and authorities confiscated items like fireworks and Molotov cocktails.
Despite a ban on gatherings in Istanbul, many protesters took to the streets, often hiding their faces with masks. Many felt compelled to demonstrate because they believe their democracy is under threat. A Sky News correspondent reported that while the protests were relatively peaceful, they were the largest seen in Turkey for over a decade.
Questions linger about how long the government will allow these demonstrations to continue and whether they could escalate into a more significant crisis for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Imamoglu faces serious charges, including running a criminal organization and accepting bribes, which many view as politically motivated to prevent him from running in the 2028 presidential election.
Imamoglu has denied the charges, calling them unfounded slanders. His arrest is seen by many as an attempt to silence a key political opponent. The government, however, insists that the judiciary is independent and that the arrest is not politically motivated.
The Republican People’s Party (CHP), which Imamoglu represents, is gearing up for the next election. They have initiated a primary to endorse him as their presidential candidate and have set up solidarity boxes for public support, with reports indicating over 13 million people have shown their backing.
As the protests continue, the atmosphere remains tense. While many participants express their fears for the future of democracy in Turkey, they remain determined to make their voices heard.