On Friday evening, Istanbul witnessed one of the largest protests of the past decade, reports the Adyrna national portal.
Thousands of people took to the streets to oppose the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who has been accused of corruption and aiding terrorist organizations. More than 100 individuals, including politicians, journalists, and businesspeople, have also been detained in connection with the case.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan harshly criticized the wave of protests. In a Friday statement, he declared that the government “will not allow vandalism and street terrorism” and will take action to maintain public order.
Demonstrations have continued for the third consecutive day. Speaking at the Istanbul protest, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel stated:
“This is not just a CHP rally. Representatives from various political parties have gathered here to support Imamoglu. Erdoğan is using the judicial system as a political weapon to pressure Imamoglu, but we will not allow it.”
However, police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters. Similar clashes were reported in Ankara and Izmir. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on social media platform X that 97 protesters had been arrested, while an additional 54 individuals were detained for allegedly inciting violence online. 16 police officers were injured during the confrontations.
Ekrem Imamoglu won re-election in last year’s local elections, securing a second term as mayor. His victory marked the first nationwide defeat for Erdoğan’s ruling party since it came to power. Analysts have considered Imamoglu a potential main challenger to Erdoğan in the 2028 presidential election.
The CHP announced that it will officially name its presidential candidate on Sunday. Currently, the leading contender for the nomination is Imamoglu, despite his imprisonment. In a symbolic act of protest, the party plans to hold nationwide mock elections and set up voting stations to express support for him.
