Turkey: Massive Protests Erupt as Imamoglu Faces Court

Turkey: Massive Protests Erupt as Imamoglu Faces Court
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Following five hours of questioning regarding allegations of corruption and terrorism, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was taken to a local court for additional interrogation. The 53-year-old's detention has ignited several days of intense demonstrations.

A lone protester stands before riot police, brandishing a Turkish flag emblazoned with the image of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the secular-nationalist founder of Turkey, during a rally against Imamoglu's arrest in Istanbul on March 22, 2025. Riot police were heavily deployed in the city on Saturday night.

Imamoglu, who is seen as a potential contender against Turkey's long-standing conservative President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, appeared in court on Saturday facing charges of corruption and terrorism linked to alleged associations with Kurdish militants.

On Sunday morning, Turkish prosecutors called for the imprisonment of Imamoglu and four of his aides in connection with these charges.

Imamoglu was apprehended on Wednesday, alongside numerous other notable individuals, including two district mayors.

Public demonstrations have erupted in over a dozen cities in reaction to the arrests, with many perceiving Imamoglu's detention as a politically motivated effort to eliminate one of Erdogan's significant opponents ahead of the upcoming presidential election in 2028.

Imamoglu was reported to have appeared at the Caglayan courthouse in Istanbul late Saturday, according to Turkish television channels. Earlier that day, the 53-year-old mayor underwent a five-hour police interrogation, during which he vehemently rejected the allegations against him, describing them as "immoral and baseless" in a statement issued by City Hall.

He expressed concern that "this process has not only harmed Turkey's international standing, but it has also undermined the public's confidence in justice and trust in the economy." The news of his arrest had a detrimental effect on the Turkish lira and created upheaval in local financial markets. The decision regarding whether Imamoglu would be released or remain in custody until his trial was expected early Sunday morning. Imamoglu's party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), which serves as the primary center-left opposition, condemned his detention and encouraged supporters to protest peacefully.

He was anticipated to be named the official presidential candidate for the CHP in the upcoming election within a few days. Massive crowds gathered outside Istanbul City Hall for the fourth consecutive night to demonstrate against Imamoglu's arrest. Organizers claimed that around 300,000 people participated, many waving red Turkish flags and displaying banners with slogans such as "Dictators are cowards!" Clashes erupted between protesters and riot police, who responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and pepper spray, as reported by AFP correspondents. Approximately 1,000 people also gathered outside the Istanbul courthouse while Imamoglu was being questioned by prosecutors. "Just as people took to the streets to support Erdogan after the July 15 (2016) coup, we are now protesting for Imamoglu," stated 30-year-old Aykut Cenk to AFP outside the courthouse, emphasizing he was "the candidate we voted for."

Authorities enforced roadblocks to restrict access to the courthouse and closed adjacent metro stations. Hundreds of police officers and several water cannon trucks were deployed. The protests continued despite measures prohibiting public gatherings in the city, which the Istanbul governor's office had recently tightened. Since Wednesday, demonstrations have expanded to over 55 of Turkey's 81 provinces, with clashes between protesters and police reported in İzmir and Ankara for a third consecutive night, where police used water cannons against the crowds. Thousands of demonstrators marched in various cities, urging the government to resign. Government representatives have dismissed claims that the legal actions against opposition figures are politically charged, maintaining that Turkey's judiciary functions independently.

On Saturday, President Erdogan accused the CHP leadership of transforming the party into "an apparatus to exonerate a few municipal thieves blinded by greed." He further charged that the party is "doing everything to disrupt public order and divide the nation." Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on social media that 343 individuals had been detained during the protests on Friday night. He asserted there would be "no tolerance for those who aim to disrupt social order, threaten public peace and security, and incite chaos and provocation.
Source@Dwnews

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