Number of arrests grow in Turkey as unrest continues

[Anthea]

15 million people voted for Ekrem Imamoglu

Around 15 million people cast their votes in a primary organized by Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP)

Istanbul’s recently deposed mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, was detained early Wednesday, sparking nationwide protests, after a symbolic opposition primary drew an overwhelming turnout in his support.

The primary, organized by Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), saw around 15 million people cast their votes, according to the municipality.

"Out of a total of 15 million votes, 13,211,000 were solidarity votes from non-party members," the municipality stated, highlighting broad public backing for Imamoglu.

The event, which was meant to officially position him as the CHP’s candidate for the 2028 presidential race, took place just hours before an Istanbul court formalized his arrest in a corruption probe.

'Strongest challenger to Erdogan'

Observers believe the looming primary prompted the legal action against Imamoglu, who is widely regarded as the strongest challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The vote was initially open to CHP’s 1.7 million members, but the party allowed public participation, drawing an unexpectedly high turnout. Due to overwhelming demand, polling stations in 81 cities remained open for an additional three-and-a-half hours.

Later in the day, the Turkish interior ministry suspended Imamoglu from his position as mayor. He was subsequently transferred to a prison on the western outskirts of Istanbul.

Suspended mayor

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has been removed from his post following his arrest on corruption charges, according to a statement issued Sunday by the Turkish Interior Ministry.

"Under Article 127 of the Constitution of Turkey, Paragraph 47 of the law on municipalities, Number 5393, Imamoglu has been temporarily suspended from his duties," the ministry said in an announcement shared on X.

The move comes as Imamoglu faces allegations of involvement with a network accused of corruption, bribery, and assisting terrorism. Although a court declined to approve a terrorism-related arrest request, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office plans to challenge that ruling. The final say now rests with the Constitutional Court, local media outlet Sabah reported.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... nbul-mayor

[Anthea]

Protests are about more than
fate of Istanbul's mayor
Orla Guerin

Beneath the acrid smell of tear gas on the night air in Istanbul, there is a hint of something else - a whiff of panic on the part of Turkey's long-time leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan

One of his rivals has been put behind bars - so far, so familiar.

But the jailing of Ekrem Imamoglu, the popular mayor of Istanbul, suggests President Erdogan is rattled – and he may have gone too far. The mayor's opposition Republican People's party (CHP), which is summoning vast crowds onto the streets, is certainly hoping so.

Ekrem Imamoglu - always smartly turned out, even as he prepared to be detained - is the main rival to Turkey's increasingly authoritarian leader. He could well replace him in presidential elections due to be held by 2028 - assuming he is free to contest them.

But this is far more than a row about the fate of Istanbul's mayor - charismatic though he may be.

Freedom and democracy have been steadily eroded in the Erdogan era. Many see this as a chance to call halt and stop the descent into all-out autocracy - if it's not already too late.

And they are coming out each night braving the riot police and their tear gas and rubber bullets, the ban on demonstrations, the road and bridge closures, and the risk of detention.

More than 1,000 people have been detained so far - in just 5 days - and counting. That's an indication of how easy it is to be arrested here

Turkey claims to be a functioning democracy - and at face value, it is. There are elections. Voter turnout is usually high - Turks cherish their right to go to the polls and cast their ballots. Voting is largely fair, on the day itself.

The problem is what happens away from the polling stations

Opposition politicians can be jailed. Critics intimidated. Protesters arrested. The media is largely government controlled. A tweet ridiculing the president could land you in a cell. By the time polling day comes around there's a tsunami of pro-government coverage and the opposition struggles to get a look in.

Ekrem Imamoglu is the type of politician who can cut through all this and reach the voters. He's media savvy and has been elected mayor of Istanbul three times. Now he's accused of embezzlement, taking bribes and running a criminal organisation.

If convicted he could be barred from standing in the presidential race. He's already appealing a previous conviction and sentence of two years in prison, for insulting election officials.

Turkey insists that its courts are independent and simply follow the law. Human rights activists here, and independent analysts, scoff at that idea.

The campaign group, Human Rights Watch, said the detention of the mayor, along with about 100 other municipal officials and politicians, is a "politically motivated move to stifle lawful political activities". In the past it has criticised "politicised decisions by courts" in Turkey.

In a post on X, where he has 9.6m followers, Imamoglu said the case against him was "a black stain on our democracy", adding: "I stand tall. I will never bow."

That's what Erdogan, 71, may be afraid of - an opponent who is younger, at 53, also appeals to conservative Turkish voters, and is ready for a long fight.

So, what happens now?

The protests could gain momentum and keep spreading. That will present a serious challenge to Erdogan. How long before his heavily armed security forces crack down even harder? How long before someone loses their life at a protest? There is a breaking point for every strongman regime, and it can come with a single bullet.

The opposition intends to keep up the pressure, and the demonstrations

But after his two decades at the top, Erdogan still has plenty of loyal supporters. He controls virtually all the levers of power and seems determined to hang on. He will be banking on the demonstrations petering out, over time.

The president and his ruling AK party will be hoping the protesters will grow weary and go back to worrying about crushing inflation (39% in February), and the dwindling value of the Turkish lira, rather than free speech, and democracy.

The coming days and weeks will test the staying power of both sides. But if there are lessons to be learned from street protests in other authoritarian nations, a quick breakthrough looks unlikely.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqlywl04pklo

[Anthea]

Erdogan calls Turkey protests over Imamoglu arrest 'evil'

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blamed opposition political parties for provoking a "movement of violence", as protests in the country continue for a sixth night

Unrest began in Istanbul last Wednesday when the city's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Erdogan's main presidential rival, was detained on corruption charges.

Thousands of people gathered once again on Monday. Unrest had escalated on Sunday night, with protesters fired on with tear gas and rubber bullets.

Imamoglu, also suspended from his post as mayor, said the allegations against him were politically motivated, a claim denied by Erdogan.

Large numbers of riot police accompanied protesters around Istanbul's city hall on Monday night, as crowds chanted and waved Turkish flags.

Vehicles carrying water guns were also seen close by, though protests appeared to be largely peaceful with no repeat of the fierce clashes seen on Sunday.

In figures released before Monday evening's gatherings, the Turkish government said 1,133 people had been arrested since the protests started.

In an earlier televised statement, Erdogan labelled the demonstrations "evil" and blamed opposition political parties for "disturbing the peace of our citizens with provocations"

Speaking from Ankara, Turkey's capital, he called for the protests to end and said that "instead of responding to allegations", opposition parties had "made the most vile and unlawful statements in our political history for [the last] five days".

CHP leader Ozgur Ozel spoke to the thousands gathered on Monday night. AFP reported that he told the crowd that the demonstration was "an act of defiance against fascism".

Despite being in custody, Imamoglu was confirmed on Monday as the Republican People's Party's (CHP) candidate for Turkey's 2028 presidential election. The vote confirming his candidacy was symbolic as he was the only person running.

He spent Sunday night in jail after being formally arrested and charged earlier that day with "establishing and managing a criminal organisation, taking bribes, extortion, unlawfully recording personal data and rigging a tender".

In a post on X over the weekend, Imamoglu said he would "never bow" and criticised his arrest as a "black stain on our democracy".

He also sent greetings to those protesting and said that voters had showed Turkey had had "enough" of Erdogan.

The demonstrations seen in recent days are the largest in Turkey since the Gezi protests of 2013, which began in Istanbul over the demolition of a local park.

They have been largely peaceful, but on Sunday police officers fired water cannons and used pepper spray as clashes unfolded.

Dilek Kaya Imamoglu, Imamoglu's wife, was also outside Istanbul's city hall and told demonstrators the "injustice" her husband faced had "struck a chord with every conscience".

Imamoglu was one of more than 100 people detained last week as part of an investigation. Others arrested included politicians, journalists and businessmen

His arrest does not prevent his candidacy or election as president, but he will not be able to run if he is convicted of any of the charges against him.

The jailed politician is seen as one of the most formidable rivals of Erdogan, who has held office in Turkey for 22 years as both prime minister and president.

However, due to term limits, Erdogan cannot run for office again in 2028 unless he changes the constitution.

Turkey's Ministry of Justice criticised those connecting Erdogan to the arrests, and insisted on its judicial independence.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7vzp3e62d4o

[Anthea]

Situation in Turkey under control

protests doomed to fail

A senior Turkish official reassured that the situation in Turkey remains under control amid ongoing protests, stressing that authorities are showing significant restraint

A senior official from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s administration stated on Wednesday that the situation in Turkey remains under control, emphasizing that "authorities and law enforcement agencies are exercising significant restraint" in handling the protests.

Speaking to Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency, the source described the demonstrations as an attempt to "destabilize the country and undermine its economy," asserting that "such efforts are destined to fail."

"The adversaries who sought to exploit the situation for their own interests have been sidelined. Türkiye and its people are resilient and capable of countering any provocation," the official added.

Regarding tourism, the source reassured that there are no security concerns for visitors. "Government agencies regularly check with tourism companies to monitor any potential disruptions, and no complaints have been reported so far," he noted.

While US Secretary of State Marco Rubio raised Washington’s "concerns" over recent arrests and widespread protests in Turkey during a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the US president praised Erdogan as a "good leader".
Rubio expresses concerns, Trump praises Erdogan

Following discussions in Washington, a State Department spokeswoman stated, "The Secretary expressed concerns regarding recent arrests and protests in Türkiye." The talks also covered bilateral cooperation on security and trade.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump described Turkey as "a good place" and praised President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as "a good leader."

Trump made the remarks at the White House during a meeting with ambassadorial nominees on Tuesday, where each nominee introduced themselves and their designated countries.

When Tom Barrack, the nominee for Turkey, spoke about the country, he highlighted its historical significance.

"Türkiye is one of the most ancient civilisations," said Barrack.

In response, Trump said, "Good place, good leader, too."

Trump announced Barrack's nomination for the ambassadorship in December.

Erdogan said Monday that relations with the US can gain "significant momentum."

"I believe that we should and will achieve this for the sake of our region despite all the challenges, despite especially lobbies seeking to poison the two countries' cooperation," Erdogan told reporters after a Cabinet meeting.
1,400+ arrested in Turkey in protests supporting detained Istanbul mayor

Turkish authorities have arrested more than 1,400 people protesting Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's arrest, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Tuesday.

Demonstrations backing Imamoglu, a member of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), have been ongoing since last week in Sarachane Square, outside the metropolitan municipality building. Authorities have banned protests in Istanbul and several other Turkish cities, yet gatherings have continued.

"From March 19 to Tuesday, 1,418 suspects were detained during illegal demonstrations. 478 of them will be brought to court today," Yerlikaya wrote on X.

He also condemned protesters who insulted the late mother of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and vowed that security forces would not tolerate any attacks on Turkiye’s national and spiritual values, pledging to prevent attempts to "terrorize the streets."

On Monday, Erdogan urged the opposition to avoid fueling unrest in the country.

Imamoglu, who is widely regarded as Erdogan’s main challenger in the 2028 presidential election, was detained on allegations of links to an organization involved in corruption, bribery, and aiding terrorism. However, prosecutors' efforts to secure his formal arrest in the terrorism probe were rejected.

His detention has ignited widespread protests across Turkey, with demonstrators defying government-imposed security measures and a ban on rallies in Istanbul that remains in place.

As detentions continue, the European Commission called on the Republic to uphold democratic values and respect the right of its citizens to peaceful demonstrations, European Commission spokesman Guillaume Mercier said on Monday.

"As a Council of Europe member and EU candidate, Turkey must uphold democratic values. These rights, the rights of elected officials, as well as the right of the peaceful demonstrations need to be fully respected," Mercier stated during a midday briefing.

'Never lose hope,' Istanbul mayor tells supporters

In light of the events, Imaoglu told his supporters to "never be sad, never be despondent, never lose hope. We will... remove this black stain on our democracy with our own hands. The day will come when people in charge of this process will answer before the Almighty, both in this world and the next. I stand tall, I will never be broken. Everything will be great," in a post on his X account.

His message comes amid rising political tensions and protests across Istanbul, where demonstrators have defied bans on public gatherings to condemn what many see as politically motivated charges.

On the same day as Imamoglu's address, Turkish media reported new legal developments. Sozcu TV confirmed that a court had issued a formal arrest warrant for Imamoglu, while Star newspaper reported that a separate request for his arrest in a terrorism investigation was rejected.

According to Halk TV, the mayor plans to challenge the decision, with the final ruling expected from the Constitutional Court.

Later, the primary, organized by Turkiye’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), saw around 15 million people cast their votes, according to the municipality.

"Out of a total of 15 million votes, 13,211,000 were solidarity votes from non-party members," the municipality stated, highlighting broad public backing for Imamoglu.

The event, which was meant to officially position him as the CHP’s candidate for the 2028 presidential race, took place just hours before an Istanbul court formalized his arrest in a corruption probe.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... ed-to-fail

[Anthea]

CHP Appoints Nuri Aslan
Acting Mayor of Istanbul

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Nuri Aslan, a member of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Council representing the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), has been elected as the acting mayor of Istanbul. The decision followed a council vote after the suspension of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu over corruption charges

Council Session and Voting Process

The council session took place at the municipality's headquarters in Istanbul, presided over by the second deputy council chairman, Gökhan Gümüşdağ. Aslan competed against Zain Abidin Okul, the deputy head of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) group in the council.

Following three rounds of voting, Aslan secured victory with 177 votes, surpassing his AKP rival, who received 125 votes

Party Dominance in the Council

The CHP holds a majority in the 314-member Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Council, with 185 seats. The AKP has 120 seats, while the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) occupies seven seats, and the Great Unity Party (BBP) has two seats.

Imamoglu's Suspension

Turkey’s Interior Ministry announced the suspension of Ekrem Imamoglu from his duties as mayor, citing a court ruling that sentenced him to prison on corruption-related charges. Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure, had previously faced legal challenges since assuming office in 2019.

https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/83 ... f-istanbul

[Anthea]

CHP vows protests will continue

The head of Turkey's main opposition party has told the BBC that protests will continue "in every city" until either early presidential elections are called, or the jailed mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, is released from prison

Ozgur Ozel, chairman of the mayor's Republican People's Party (CHP), said the nationwide protests would include a very large demonstration this Saturday in Istanbul. That will open the party's campaign to make Imamoglu the country's next president in elections that are due in 2028.

Ozel promised biggest rallies in history

"The belief in Ekrem Imamoglu and in democracy will make the protests bigger and stronger," he told us at his party headquarters in Istanbul, as visitors, staff and advisors bustled in and out.

The opposition has brought huge crowds onto the streets - the biggest seen here in over a decade - since Imamoglu was arrested seven days ago.

Alongside the mass demonstrations, there have also been mass arrests - more than 1,400 people and counting, including seven Turkish journalists who were reporting on the protests.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has plenty of strong supporters, has condemned the demonstrations as "street terrorism" and accused protesters of attacking the police and damaging public property.

He said the opposition's "show" would eventually fade

Ozel spoke to the BBC fresh from a visit to Silivri Prison, a high-security campus on the outskirts of Istanbul where Imamoglu is being held.

"He is in solitary confinement, but he's in good condition and has not been mistreated so far," he told us.

Ozel said the corruption case against Istanbul's mayor was "a scam designed to discredit him".

As an example, he cited allegations that Imamoglu bought land cheaply years ago, and the low purchase price may have been a bribe. "The truth was that small payment was just the deposit for the land," he said.

Why are thousands of people protesting in Turkey?

Protests are about far more than fate of Istanbul's mayor

Ekrem Imamoglu - Turkey's presidential hopeful who is under arrest

Imamoglu denies all the charges against him, including "establishing a criminal organisation, taking bribes, extortion, and rigging a public tender".

He says his arrest was a coup. Turkish officials say the courts here are independent. Human rights organisations strongly dispute that.

Ozel said Imamoglu was arrested for one simple reason – to prevent him becoming Turkey's next president. Opinion polls suggest the mayor might be able to do that – if he's not behind bars.

"Erdogan has thrown a three-time election winner in jail… in front of the whole world," Ozel said.

"Suddenly he is jailing someone who is fighting against him in a normal political way. It's like your rival coming and slicing the ball in a football game, because you are winning."

The opposition party believes the response of Turkish society and the international community will be key in deciding if Imamoglu remains behind bars.

But Ozel said the CHP felt "abandoned" by the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his party.

"While all of Europe is reacting, the English Labour Party, and Starmer have said nothing. The cradle of democracy - England - and our brother party, the Labour party, how can they stay silent? We are really hurt."

A few hours before that comment on Tuesday, Starmer's spokesman said that there was "an ongoing domestic Turkish legal process" and the UK "expects Turkey to uphold the rule of law".

If the mayor is not released CHP to keep fighting for presidency

"If they keep Ekrem Imamoglu locked up and hinder his candidacy," Ozel said, "any member of CHP can be a candidate and would be elected with 65% to 70%".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr52g356l41o

[Anthea]

Turkiye arrests more protestors

Turkish authorities arrested an opposition lawyer and two Turkish journalists, while foreign journalists faced their share of detentions as Turkiye intensified its crackdown on protests

Turkiye has escalated its arrest campaign targeting Erdogan's opposition, arresting a lawyer and several journalists as the wave of protests continues for the second week.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's lawyer, Mehmet Pehlivan, was arrested in an overnight raid on Thursday, prompting Imamoglu to claim that Pehlivan was "detained on fictitious grounds," in a post on X published by his legal team.

"As if the coup against democracy was not enough, they cannot tolerate the victims defending themselves. The evil that a handful of incompetent people are inflicting on our country is growing," the mayor stated, calling on the authorities to release the layer immediately.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Journalists' Union (TGS) reported that two female journalists were arrested in dawn raids on their homes.

"Another dawn raid. Two of our colleagues who were following the #Sarachane protests were detained," the TGS X post stated, "Let journalists do their job! Stop these unlawful detentions," the Union added.

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin was held in detention as he arrived in Turkiye to cover the protests, according to Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard and the Dagens ETC newspaper on Friday.

Turkish authorities released 11 journalists who were arrested on Monday for covering the protest; among them was AFP photographer Yasin Akgul.

"The decision to throw me in jail came even though my identity as a journalist was known, and evidence provided to prove it," Akgul told AFP, adding that "I hope no other journalists will face a situation like this. But unfortunately, I fear that arbitrary acts to silence journalists and stop them from doing their job will continue in Turkey."

BBC journalist Mark Lowen was held for 17 hours on Wednesday on the grounds of posing "a threat to public order," contradicting the Turkish communications directorate which claimed Lowen was deported "due to a lack of accreditation."
1,400+ arrested in Turkey in protests supporting detained Istanbul mayor

Turkish authorities have arrested more than 1,400 people protesting Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's arrest, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Tuesday.

Demonstrations backing Imamoglu, a member of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), have been ongoing since last week in Sarachane Square, outside the metropolitan municipality building. Authorities have banned protests in Istanbul and several other Turkish cities, yet gatherings have continued.

"From March 19 to Tuesday, 1,418 suspects were detained during illegal demonstrations. 478 of them will be brought to court today," Yerlikaya wrote on X.

He also condemned protesters who insulted the late mother of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and vowed that security forces would not tolerate any attacks on Turkey’s national and spiritual values, pledging to prevent attempts to "terrorize the streets."

On Monday, Erdogan urged the opposition to avoid fueling unrest in the country.

Imamoglu, who is widely regarded as Erdogan’s main challenger in the 2028 presidential election, was detained on allegations of links to an organization involved in corruption, bribery, and aiding terrorism. However, prosecutors' efforts to secure his formal arrest in the terrorism probe were rejected.

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