Protests erupted in several Turkish cities following the early morning arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The demonstrations, which continued into the second night, were sparked by Imamoglu’s detention as part of ongoing investigations into corruption and terrorism allegations.
Protesters gathered at Istanbul’s City Hall, with some attempting to reach the city’s fenced-off Taksim Square, a historic site of major demonstrations. Similar scenes unfolded in Ankara, where police utilized water cannons to disperse protesters at Middle East Technical University, and in other cities such as Izmir and Adana.
Imamoglu’s arrest occurred just before he was to announce his candidacy for the presidency in 2028 on behalf of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). Dozens of individuals, including journalists, businesspeople, and municipal government staff, were also detained during the predawn raid on his office.
The mayor is accused of various charges including bribery, extortion, fraud, and obtaining personal data for profit, as well as alleged collaboration with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist organization in Turkey.
Imamoglu, a political rival to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, now faces the threat of being barred from politics after a university moved to nullify his diploma due to “irregularities.” Pro-restoration protests are expected to continue despite the government’s imposition of a four-day ban on such gatherings.
CHP leader Ozgur Ozel has called on supporters to maintain their protests peacefully. Social media has also been a platform for dissent, with millions of posts expressing dissatisfaction with Imamoglu’s detention, leading to the detainment of 37 individuals alleged to be inciting public hatred or crime.
The arrest of Imamoglu has also impacted Turkish market trading, with temporary halts to trading implemented to prevent sell-offs and the value of the lira reaching an all-time low.
Despite the public outcry and the economic repercussions, President Erdogan and the ruling Justice and Development Party have defended the legal action taken against Imamoglu, calling on the opposition to respect the ongoing judicial process.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/21/second-night-of-protests-in-turkiye-after-istanbul-mayor-detained?traffic_source=rss
