Turkey unrest could get worse and become a major bloodbath, as escalating violence over the controversial jailing of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu sparks one of President Erdogan’s worst crisis in years
Turkish security blasted protestors with tear gas and rubber bullets as tens of thousands took to the streets in the biggest countrywide anti-government rallies seen in years.
More than 100 police have been injured as demonstrators armed with knives, acid and Molotov cocktails pushed back against a crackdown against the growing unrest. Police seized more than 1,100 people objecting to the jailing of Presidential opposition hopeful, sacked Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. In a major escalation at least eight reporters and photojournalists were dragged from their homes and detained by Turkish authorities on Monday morning.
Huge crowds gathered outside Istanbul’s city hall where police used pepper spray and fired rubber bullets into people. As Turkish cities braced for a sixth night of unrest on Monday, Turkey’s interior minister said 1,133 people were detained between March 19 and March 23 in a post on X. Ali Yerlikaya added: “Terrorising our streets and threatening the peace and security of our nation will absolutely not be tolerated.” He said 123 police officers had been injured in the protests with a variety of weapons.
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Mr Imamoglu was jailed on suspicion of running a criminal organisation, bribes, extortion, illegally recording personal data and bid-rigging. He has denied the accusations. A request for him to be imprisoned on terror-related charges was rejected although he still faces prosecution. The Interior Ministry later announced that Mr Imamoglu had been suspended from duty as a “temporary measure”.
He is now locked up in Silivri prison, west of Istanbul, as more than 1.7million members of his opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, backed him as its presidential candidate. Millions of non-members also cast votes in a “solidarity ballot,” the party said. Alongside Mr Imamoglu, 47 other people were also jailed pending trial including a key aide and two district mayors from Istanbul, one of whom was replaced with a government appointee.
A further 44 suspects were released on bail. Mr Imamoglu was elected mayor of Turkey’s largest city in March 2019, in a major blow to Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party which has ruled Istanbul for 25 years. Erdogan’s party pushed to void the municipal election results in the city of 16 million, alleging irregularities.
The Disk-Basin-Is media workers’ union said: “You cannot hide the truth by silencing journalists!” The group described the arrests as an “attack on press freedoms and the people’s right to learn the truth.” The mayor’s imprisonment is widely regarded as a political move to remove a major challenger to Erdogan from the next presidential race, currently scheduled for 2028.
Government officials strongly reject the accusations and insist that Turkey’s courts operate independently. The Interior Ministry later announced that Mr Imamoglu had been suspended from duty as a “temporary measure”. The municipality had previously appointed an acting mayor from its governing council.
The politician was taken to Silivri prison, west of Istanbul, as more than 1.7million members of his opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, held a primary election endorsing him as its presidential candidate. Millions of non-members also cast votes in a “solidarity ballot,” the party said.