Turkey: What to know about recent protests after Imamoglu’s arrest

Tensions in Turkey have escalated as protests continue following the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu.

Since the demonstrations began last week, Turkish Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya has confirmed that 1,133 people have been detained.

“The terrorization of our streets and the threat to the peace and security of our nation will absolutely not be tolerated,” Yerlikaya stated in a lengthy post.

The unrest erupted after Imamoglu, a major political rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was detained alongside more than 100 others, including politicians, journalists, and businessmen.

He was formally charged with corruption, an accusation he describes as politically motivated—an allegation that Erdogan denies.

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Imamoglu’s arrest comes just days after he was confirmed as the Republican People’s Party (CHP) nominee for Turkey’s 2028 presidential election.

In response, tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in largely peaceful demonstrations, although Sunday saw the worst unrest in over a decade, with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters.

Despite orders to stay home, crowds have continued to defy restrictions.

“This is oppression,” said Mevlüde Karataş outside the courthouse.

Another supporter described the situation as historic: “We are maybe living the most important days of our democracy in the last 100 years.”

Authorities have intensified their crackdown, with police conducting dawn raids in Istanbul and Izmir, detaining several politicians, lawyers, and journalists.

As protests persist, Turkey analyst Steven A. Cook emphasised Imamoglu’s political significance: “He is a significant threat to President Erdogan.”

With the next election still three years away, the situation signals a growing political battle in the country.

(BBC)