Protests erupt in Türkiye after Istanbul Mayor detained
Photo: Protests erupt in Türkiye after Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu detained (Getty Images)
Protests have broken out across Türkiye following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, just days before he was set to be nominated as a presidential candidate, according to BBC and Euronews.
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Istanbul in response to the arrest.
"Several roads had been closed, some social media platforms were restricted, and a four-day demonstration ban was put into place in an attempt to thwart protests," Euronews reports.
Despite the ban, many protesters gathered outside the Istanbul police headquarters, the mayor's office, and the headquarters of the Republican People's Party (CHP), where İmamoğlu belongs.
Thousands of people braved the cold to protest in front of the city hall, chanting:
"Erdogan, dictator!" and "İmamoğlu, you are not alone!"
Meanwhile, riot police blocked roads leading to the Vatan security department, where the mayor was taken after his arrest. Reports from Istanbul indicated clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement.
According to BBC, Turkish police arrested 100 people, including politicians, journalists, and business figures, as part of the investigation. Additionally, the Istanbul governor’s office imposed four-day restrictions on public gatherings.
"The government has banned public gatherings in Istanbul as part of the four days of restrictions. But more protests are anticipated nationwide as opposition leaders, including Imamoglu's wife, urge people to 'raise their voices,'" the report states.
Several streets in Istanbul were also closed to traffic, and some metro lines were suspended.
The CHP’s nomination process for its presidential candidate is scheduled for Sunday, March 23.
Arrest of Istanbul Mayor
Ekrem İmamoğlu, Istanbul’s mayor and Erdogan’s main political rival, was arrested in Türkiye. The main opposition party (CHP) described the move as a "coup attempt."
İmamoğlu and his aides are suspected of corruption, including extortion and fraud, as well as alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is banned in Türkiye and classified as a terrorist organization by Ankara.
In addition to his arrest, the Istanbul University revoked İmamoğlu’s bachelor's degree, a qualification required to run for the presidency. According to the Turkish Constitution, candidates must have a full higher education to be eligible for office.
Notably, the arrest of İmamoğlu also triggered a record drop in the value of the Turkish lira.
