Protests erupted in Turkey after authorities jailed Istanbul’s mayor only days before he was set to be named a presidential candidate. Ekrem Imamoglu of the secular Republican People’s Party (CHP) is regarded as one of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s most powerful political enemies.
Prosecutors accused him of corruption and supporting a terrorist group, describing him as a “criminal organization leader suspect.” As part of the inquiry, police detained 100 people, including politicians, journalists, and businessmen, and the Istanbul governor’s office restricted the city for four days. Protesters have flocked to the streets, university campuses, and subway stations, chanting anti-government slogans. It is a public outburst unlike any other in recent memory.
There have been reports of skirmishes between protesters and police in Turkey’s biggest metropolis. Reuters footage shows police deploying pepper spray to disperse demonstrators outside Istanbul University. Thousands of protesters gathered in the cold in front of the municipal hall, chanting “Erdogan, dictator!” and “Imamoglu, you are not alone!
As part of the four-day restriction period, the government has banned public meetings in Istanbul. However, additional rallies are expected around the country as opposition figures, including Imamoglu’s wife, urge people to “raise their voices”. Many streets in Istanbul have been closed to traffic, and some metro lines have halted their services.
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