Tens of thousands of people participated in a mass rally in Istanbul, organized by Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), in response to the arrest of the city’s mayor and prominent opposition figure Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges. This event marked one of the largest demonstrations against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who Imamoglu is seen as a potential challenger in future presidential elections. The CHP and various rights organizations believe the arrest and continued detention of Imamoglu are politically motivated.

More than 100,000 people took part in the “Freedom for Imamoglu” rally in Maltepe, on Istanbul’s Asian side, waving Turkish flags and CHP banners. Some protesters, including those on ferries crossing the Bosphorus, chanted “everywhere is Taksim, resistance is everywhere” as a reference to the significant protests of 2013 centered around Taksim Square.

During the protests, one banner read, “If justice is silent, the people will speak,” while another participant commented: “The trend of the economy, the trend of justice, law — everything is getting worse. That is why we are here. We say ‘rights, law and justice’ and we are seeking our rights.”

In addition to the protests, Turkish authorities have continued their crackdown on media coverage, detaining a Swedish journalist, Joakim Medin, for allegedly “insulting the president” and belonging to a “terrorist organization.” This incident follows the recent detention of several Turkish journalists and the deportation of a BBC correspondent, emphasizing ongoing concerns about press freedom in Turkey.

Edited by: Sean Sinico

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-opposition-protesters-flock-to-istanbul-streets/a-72082321?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf