Protests Erupt in Turkey Following Arrest of Istanbul Mayor
Demonstrations have gripped cities across Turkey for a second consecutive night following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure, amidst corruption and terrorism investigations, as per Al Jazeera.
Protests were centered in Istanbul, where small groups of demonstrators clashed with police near the fenced-off Taksim Square, a symbolic location for past mass protests. Similar demonstrations, though smaller in scale, were reported in Ankara, Izmir, and Adana, where police employed water cannons to disperse crowds at Middle East Technical University.
Imamoglu, a member of the secular Republican People’s Party (CHP) and considered a leading contender to challenge President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the 2028 presidential election, was arrested in a pre-dawn raid on Wednesday. Dozens of other prominent figures, including journalists, businesspeople, and Istanbul municipal government staff, were also detained.
The mayor faces a litany of charges, including bribery, extortion, corruption, aggravated fraud, and illegally obtaining personal data for profit as part of a criminal organization. He also faces separate charges of allegedly collaborating with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a designated terrorist organization in Turkey, during municipal elections.
Adding to the controversy, a Turkish university recently nullified Imamoglu’s diploma for alleged “irregularities,” a move that could potentially lead to his ban from politics. The recent charges are part of a growing number of legal probes targeting the mayor, some dating back to 2022.
Despite a four-day ban imposed by the government on public gatherings, the protests triggered by Imamoglu’s detention are expected to continue throughout the weekend. CHP leader Ozgur Ozel addressed a rally outside Istanbul’s City Hall on Thursday evening, urging supporters to continue their demonstrations.
Social media has also become a platform for expressing dissent, with over 18.6 million posts shared within 24 hours of Imamoglu’s detention. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that police detained 37 suspected account users for allegedly “inciting” public hatred or crime through 261 social media accounts.
The unexpected arrest has also impacted Turkish financial markets, with trading temporarily halted on Wednesday to prevent panic selling and the lira falling to a record low.
Despite the widespread turmoil, President Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party have defended Imamoglu’s detention.
