Protests erupted across multiple Turkish cities on Friday as thousands rallied against the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure and key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Despite Erdogan’s stern warning that street demonstrations would not be tolerated, unrest spread throughout the country, leading to violent clashes with police.
In Istanbul, hundreds of protesters gathered near the city’s historic aqueduct, attempting to break through police barricades. Security forces responded with pepper spray, tear gas, and rubber bullets as demonstrators threw flares, stones, and other objects at them.
Policemen use an anti riot rifles to disperse people during a protest against the arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in Istanbul. (AP photo)
Similar protests were broken up in Ankara, the capital, as well as in the Aegean coastal city of Izmir, where authorities resorted to forceful measures, according to footage broadcast by the private Halk TV.
People light flares as they protest against the arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul. (AP photo)
Across several other cities, thousands marched, calling for the government to resign. At least 97 people were detained nationwide, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said, as per AP.
Mayor Imamoglu’s arrest and charges
Imamoglu was arrested early Wednesday morning in a dawn raid on his residence. Authorities charged him with alleged corruption and links to terrorist organizations, accusations he has firmly denied. Several other opposition figures, including two district mayors, were also detained as part of the crackdown.
A policeman uses an anti riot rifle to disperse people during a protest against the arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in Istanbul. (AP photo)
The mayor is expected to appear before prosecutors on Saturday evening. Many view his arrest as a politically motivated attempt to sideline a major challenger to Erdogan ahead of the 2028 presidential election. However, government officials reject claims that legal actions against opposition figures are politically driven, insisting that Turkish courts operate independently.
Imamoglu was arrested early Wednesday morning in a dawn raid on his residence. (AP photo)
Turkey’s main opposition leader, Ozgur Ozel, urged citizens to take to the streets in peaceful protests. Addressing a large rally outside Istanbul’s city hall, he accused Erdogan of using the judiciary as a weapon against political rivals. “I invite tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, and millions to peacefully demonstrate, express our democratic reaction, and exercise our constitutional rights,” Ozel said, as per AP.
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Police officers use pepper spray during clashes with people. (AP photo)
Erdogan vows to crush unrest
President Erdogan dismissed the accusations of political persecution, instead framing the protests as an attempt to destabilize the country.
A man holds a Turkish flag as people clash with police. (AP photo)
“An anti-corruption operation in Istanbul is being used as an excuse to stir unrest in our streets,” Erdogan said. “I want it to be known that we will not allow a handful of opportunists to bring unrest to Turkey just to protect their plundering schemes.”
He further accused opposition figures of having ties to corruption and terrorist organizations, warning that the government would not tolerate street protests.
(With inputs from AP)
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