Protests erupt in Turkey after Erdogan rival arrested
Thousands of Turks have stepped up protests over the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a leading opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Protesters have taken to the streets despite a ban on street gatherings and have called Imamoglu's arrest undemocratic. Ankara, the capital, has restricted access to some social media.
Imamoglu's arrest has marked a critical turning point in the country's politics. Accused of alleged corruption and terrorist links by Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government, his arrest is widely seen as an attempt by the president to neutralize a potential rival ahead of the next presidential election in 2028.
Protesters gathered at a municipal headquarters and a police station in Istanbul, as well as at universities and public squares across the country, leading to some clashes with police officers who had set up barricades and closed off streets.
Accused of corruption and complicity with terrorists
Imamoglu, 54, Erdogan's main political rival, was arrested on Wednesday on charges of corruption and complicity with a terrorist group. This action, condemned by the opposition as an "attempted coup d'état," has triggered a first round of demonstrations and criticism from European leaders.
The measure against the popular, two-term mayor culminates a months-long legal offensive against opposition figures, criticized as a politicized attempt to damage his electoral prospects and silence dissent—accusations the government denies.
In his initial comments on the arrest, Erdogan dismissed opposition criticism as "theatrics" and "slogans" for which the country has no time. However, in an interview with Reuters, Ozgur Ozel, chairman of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), of which Imamoglu is a member, said Erdogan was afraid of facing the mayor in a vote and wanted to "eliminate" him and cut his party's ties with the city.
Ozel also stated that any measure preventing Imamoglu from running for president in the upcoming elections would only strengthen opposition support, adding that the CHP will nominate him as its candidate in a vote scheduled for Sunday.
"We believe Imamoglu will win. If his candidacy is blocked, we believe this will translate into much greater support," Ozel told Reuters in his first interview with foreign media since his arrest. "This nation has never forgiven anyone who tries to delegitimize the ballot box," he added. Ozel made these remarks outside a small room in the Istanbul municipal headquarters, where he plans to spend the night until Imamoglu is released.
Turkish elections aren't scheduled until 2028, but would have to be held sooner if Erdogan, 71, who has ruled Türkiye for 22 years, wants to run again. Imamoglu is leading in some polls.
Ankara bans gatherings for four days
The government has warned against linking Erdogan or politics to Imamoglu's arrest, and has asserted that the judiciary is independent in response to criticism that the arrests are politically motivated.
Ankara has imposed a four-day ban on gatherings and restricted access to some social media platforms to limit communications, and dozens of people have been arrested for what authorities described as provocative posts.
Turkish police have deployed water cannon trucks near the police station where the mayor is being held. From within the country, Imamoglu has urged members of the judiciary and Erdogan's ruling party to fight the injustice of his detention.
"These events have transcended our political parties or ideals," he declared on the social network X. "It's time to speak out."
