Protests in Turkey: Hundreds of thousands against arrest from İmamoğlu!

Protests in Turkey: Hundreds of thousands against arrest from İmamoğlu!

In Turkey, the political situation escalates dramatically: the Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem İmamoğlu, a prominent opposition politician, was arrested on Wednesday, accusation of corruption and support for a forbidden organization. After his arrest, protests broke out nationwide, which according to reports from the opposition party CHP were supported by over 300,000 people in Istanbul. The arrests of İmamoğlu, who is considered a serious competitor of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, have triggered the greatest demonstrations in Turkey for more than a decade. As the Turkish broadcaster A Haber reported, numerous people, including members of the CHP, remain in custody until the negotiation.

riots and violence on the streets

In the middle of the protests, the Istanbul public prosecutor decided that İmamoğlu had to remain in prison until the negotiation. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported a total of 343 arrests in several cities. Despite a ban on demonstration, the protesters implemented their demands for the resignation of the government by slogues and peaceful meetings. However, the police reacted with force: use of pepper spray, water cannons and rubber floors were reported, while the demonstrators threw stone and fireworks back. "No attempt to endanger public order is tolerated," said Yerlikaya. Prominent CHP fighters, including İmamoğlu itself, were arrested during this unrest.

The government's reactions

President Erdoğan described the protests as "street terror" and promised to deal with the situation with all might. While the protest movement demonstrates an immediate rejection of government policy, political conditions in Turkey are on the brink - the arrest İmamoğlus is considered a strategic plan to weaken the opposition. In the run -up to the regular presidential elections in 2028, the CHP plans to officially nominate İmamoğlu as candidates, although the allegations against him continue to be difficult. Several police officers have already been injured in the disputes.

This explosive turning point in Turkish politics shows the tensions between the government and the opposition, which increasingly result in violence. Where will that end? How the developments will go on remains to be seen, but the situation is tense and the international community is observed critically.