Thousands Demonstrate Against Istanbul Mayor's Arrest
Thousands of individuals gathered in the streets of Istanbul on Wednesday to protest the arrest of the city's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, who is seen as a significant political challenger to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the upcoming...
TroibNews 
Thousands of individuals gathered in the streets of Istanbul on Wednesday to protest the arrest of the city's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, who is seen as a significant political challenger to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the upcoming elections in 2028.
Imamoglu, a prominent member of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), was among around a hundred people detained earlier in the day on accusations of corruption and supposed links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the Turkish government. The mayor's apprehension came just days before his anticipated nomination as CHP’s candidate for the presidency.
In response to Imamoglu’s detention, Turkish authorities enacted a four-day ban on demonstrations, closed several roads in Istanbul, and placed restrictions on social media platforms.
Despite these measures, large crowds of protesters assembled outside key locations including Istanbul's police headquarters, City Hall, and the main CHP office. The demonstrators waved Turkish national flags and held up images of Imamoglu, chanting anti-government slogans and demanding his release.
One participant in the crowd stated to Reuters, “We came here to support the mayor. They arrested him unjustly.” Another protester expressed to AFP that “we are living in a dictatorship.”
Reports have emerged of minor confrontations between demonstrators and riot police, with a video from Reuters showcasing officers employing pepper spray to disperse a gathering near Istanbul University.
Prior to his arrest, Imamoglu posted on X, asserting that “the will of the people cannot be silenced through intimidation or unlawful acts,” and pledged to continue his “fight for fundamental rights and freedoms.”
During a press conference, CHP leader Ozgur Ozel labeled the mayor’s detention as “a coup,” accusing Erdogan of fearing a potential loss to Imamoglu in the election.
In response, Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc described Ozel’s remarks as “extremely dangerous and incorrect.” He emphasized that the country’s justice system is “impartial and independent” and argued that “linking investigations and cases initiated by the judiciary to our president is, at best, presumptuous and inappropriate.”
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
Imamoglu, a prominent member of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), was among around a hundred people detained earlier in the day on accusations of corruption and supposed links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the Turkish government. The mayor's apprehension came just days before his anticipated nomination as CHP’s candidate for the presidency.
In response to Imamoglu’s detention, Turkish authorities enacted a four-day ban on demonstrations, closed several roads in Istanbul, and placed restrictions on social media platforms.
Despite these measures, large crowds of protesters assembled outside key locations including Istanbul's police headquarters, City Hall, and the main CHP office. The demonstrators waved Turkish national flags and held up images of Imamoglu, chanting anti-government slogans and demanding his release.
One participant in the crowd stated to Reuters, “We came here to support the mayor. They arrested him unjustly.” Another protester expressed to AFP that “we are living in a dictatorship.”
Reports have emerged of minor confrontations between demonstrators and riot police, with a video from Reuters showcasing officers employing pepper spray to disperse a gathering near Istanbul University.
Prior to his arrest, Imamoglu posted on X, asserting that “the will of the people cannot be silenced through intimidation or unlawful acts,” and pledged to continue his “fight for fundamental rights and freedoms.”
During a press conference, CHP leader Ozgur Ozel labeled the mayor’s detention as “a coup,” accusing Erdogan of fearing a potential loss to Imamoglu in the election.
In response, Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc described Ozel’s remarks as “extremely dangerous and incorrect.” He emphasized that the country’s justice system is “impartial and independent” and argued that “linking investigations and cases initiated by the judiciary to our president is, at best, presumptuous and inappropriate.”
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
