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Thousands protest Istanbul mayor’s arrest
(MENAFN) Thousands protest Istanbul mayor’s arrest (VIDEOS) — RT World News
Mass Protests Erupt in Istanbul Over Mayor’s Arrest
Thousands demonstrate in Istanbul over mayor’s detention
Thousands of people took to the streets of Istanbul on Wednesday to protest the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, the city's mayor and a key Political rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Imamoglu, a prominent figure in the Republican People’s Party (CHP), was among over 100 people detained on charges of corruption and alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)—a group classified as a terrorist organization by Ankara. His arrest came just days before he was set to be officially nominated as CHP’s presidential candidate for the 2028 election.
In response to Imamoglu’s detention, authorities imposed a four-day ban on protests, closed several roads in Istanbul, and restricted social media access. However, large crowds still gathered outside police headquarters, City Hall, and CHP offices, carrying Turkish flags and portraits of Imamoglu while chanting anti-government slogans and demanding his release.
“We are living in a dictatorship,” one protester told AFP, while another told Reuters, “They arrested him unjustly.”
Minor clashes between protesters and riot police were reported, with footage showing officers using pepper spray to disperse a crowd near Istanbul University.
Before his arrest, Imamoglu posted on X (formerly Twitter), declaring that “the will of the people cannot be silenced” and vowing to continue fighting for fundamental rights and freedoms.
CHP leader Ozgur Ozel condemned the arrest as “a coup”, accusing Erdogan of fearing electoral defeat. In response, Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc dismissed the claims, insisting that the judiciary remains independent and impartial.
Mass Protests Erupt in Istanbul Over Mayor’s Arrest
Thousands demonstrate in Istanbul over mayor’s detention
Thousands of people took to the streets of Istanbul on Wednesday to protest the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, the city's mayor and a key Political rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Imamoglu, a prominent figure in the Republican People’s Party (CHP), was among over 100 people detained on charges of corruption and alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)—a group classified as a terrorist organization by Ankara. His arrest came just days before he was set to be officially nominated as CHP’s presidential candidate for the 2028 election.
In response to Imamoglu’s detention, authorities imposed a four-day ban on protests, closed several roads in Istanbul, and restricted social media access. However, large crowds still gathered outside police headquarters, City Hall, and CHP offices, carrying Turkish flags and portraits of Imamoglu while chanting anti-government slogans and demanding his release.
“We are living in a dictatorship,” one protester told AFP, while another told Reuters, “They arrested him unjustly.”
Minor clashes between protesters and riot police were reported, with footage showing officers using pepper spray to disperse a crowd near Istanbul University.
Before his arrest, Imamoglu posted on X (formerly Twitter), declaring that “the will of the people cannot be silenced” and vowing to continue fighting for fundamental rights and freedoms.
CHP leader Ozgur Ozel condemned the arrest as “a coup”, accusing Erdogan of fearing electoral defeat. In response, Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc dismissed the claims, insisting that the judiciary remains independent and impartial.
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