Türkiye: Large demo in Istanbul for detained mayor Imamoglu

With a large rally in Istanbul, the largest Turkish opposition party Chp wants to ensure that its detained presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoglu is released. For the planned mass protest in the Maltepe district, thousands of people are expected today. The demonstrators accuse the authoritarian president Recep Tayyip Erdogan of wanting to politically and want to get rid of the abandoned mayor Imamoglu with the help of the judiciary.

Imamoglu himself wrote in a guest post for the “New York Times” that Turkey had transformed into a “republic of fear” under Erdogan. But despite – or precisely – because of – repression against government critics, people persistently resisted on the streets. In a message on the platform X, he thanked them and wrote: “I am on the side of our young people and admire their courage. They are about to write history.”

The 53-year-old is currently being held in the well-known Marmara prison in Silivri near Istanbul. The popular opposition politician was imprisoned on March 19, referring to allegations of corruption and later deducted as mayor of the metropolis. Investigations into the parallel run for alleged terrorist support against him.

Imamoglu thanks demonstrators: “admire their courage”

His arrest triggered a wave of protest in the entire country, which the police encountered hundreds of arrests and sometimes brutal hardness against mostly peaceful demonstrators. Exact figures for injured demonstrators are not published, the police reported only more than 100 injured officials.

The management of the social democratic CHP wants to continue the protests until an early presidential election is scheduled or imamoglu is released. On Friday there was demonstrations in several cities on Friday. It was also protested in Istanbul – where there were again several arrests.

Lawyer iMamoglus arrested

While the demonstrations are prohibited in many places, the Governard Office in Istanbul has since expired this ban on protest. However, there are still arrests. On Friday, one of Imamoglus lawyers was temporarily custody due to alleged money laundering. He was later released again with the edition of an exit lock, as the state news agency Anadolu reported.

Among the arrested people are also increasingly located. On Thursday, a BBC reporter was arrested and deported from Turkey, who, according to the British broadcaster, was in the country for several days to report on the protests. The descriptions of the journalist show that not all officials are on Erdogan within the police apparatus: During his seven hours in the police headquarters, several officers had told him that the authorities’ procedure did not agree. One hugged him and wished him freedom, reporter Mark Lowen wrote on the BBC website.

Also on Thursday, an employee of the Swedish newspaper “Dagens etc.” was taken to the interrogation according to the information after landing in Istanbul. It is still unclear how things go with him. Two Turkish journalists were also arrested in connection with the protests, as the daily newspaper “Evrensel” reported on Friday.