Protests erupts in Turkey following arrest of Istanbul Mayor
Istanbul's opposition party staged a mass rally on Wednesday evening to protest the detention of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, despite a government ban on public gatherings.
Earlier in the day, Turkish police detained Imamoglu, a prominent div from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), on allegations of graft and 'terrorism.' The detention has sparked outrage from the opposition, who have criticised the move as a politically motivated 'coup.'
Imamoglu is considered President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival. His detention comes days before the CHP is expected to name its candidate for the 2028 presidential election.
Ozgur Ozel, head of the CHP, announced that a protest would proceed in Istanbul against Imamoglu's detention.
'I invite all lawyers to Vatan [Istanbul Police headquarters] with their robes and all Istanbulites to Sarachane [Istanbul Municipality headquarters] to support our Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. There is no salvation alone – either all together or none of us!' Ozel told thousands of people gathered in front of Istanbul Municipality. Ozgur Ozel, head of the CHP at the massive protests in Istanbul against Imamoglu's detention.
The call for protest came despite a ruling from the Istanbul Governor banning all public gatherings for four days. Authorities also reportedly cut main public transport lines in the city, while increasing police presence.
Imamoglu, along with 106 others, was arrested on Wednesday morning as part of investigations into terrorism and corruption. Critics of the government allege that the arrests are politically motivated.
Ozel earlier accused Erdogan's government of staging a coup. 'Making decisions on behalf of the people, using force to replace the will of the people or to obstruct it, is a coup,' he said.
The mayor of Istanbul's Sisli district, Resul Ekrem Sahan, and the general secretary of the Istanbul Municipality were also detained, along with journalists, local politicians, businesspeople and municipal administrators.
The Istanbul Prosecutor's Office named Imamoglu as 'the leader of a crime group' in connection with terrorism and corruption investigations.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc cautioned the opposition against staging street protests. 'It is dangerous to try to influence the impartial judiciary. Calls for the street [protests] aimed at misleading the public are also unacceptable,' Tunc said on Wednesday.
Hundreds of Istanbul University students held a protest on Wednesday and broke a police blockade, leading to police intervention.
Imamoglu's detention comes a day after Istanbul University revoked his diploma.
Imamoglu had been seen as a likely candidate to challenge Erdogan in the next elections. However, as his popularity grew, he became the subject of court cases and investigations.
Authorities have reportedly reduced internet bandwidth for access to social media platforms, including X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Telegram, Signal and WhatsApp.
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