Istanbul Protests Erupt: A Nation Stands Against Imamoglu’s Arrest
Hundreds of thousands of Turkish protesters flooded the streets today, gathering on the Asian side of Istanbul to voice their outrage over the arrest of the city’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. This unprecedented wave of demonstrations, sparked by his detention, has swept across Turkey, marking the largest unrest in over a decade.
A Massive Rally Shakes Istanbul
For instance, the opposition-led rally saw an estimated 2.2 million people, according to Ozgur Ozel, leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), to which Imamoglu belongs. The crowds assembled at noon (9:00 GMT) on Istanbul’s Asian shore, responding to Ozel’s call to “continue the march toward power.” Meanwhile, the arrest of Imamoglu on March 19 has ignited nightly protests, with tens of thousands taking to the streets nationwide, persisting through Monday evening.
Escalating Arrests and Repression
However, the government’s response has been swift and severe. In Istanbul alone, authorities detained 511 students by Friday, with 275 imprisoned, as reported by lawyer Ferhat Guzel, who believes the real number could be much higher. Official data from Thursday reveals over 2,000 arrests nationwide, with 260 individuals jailed. Additionally, the crackdown extended to journalists, including Swedish reporter Joachim Medin, arrested upon arrival Monday and imprisoned by Friday night, according to his editor at Dagens Nyheter.
International Media Targeted
Similarly, the authorities expelled BBC correspondent Mark Lowen on Thursday, accusing him of posing a “threat to public order” while covering the protests. At least 12 Turkish journalists were also detained this week, most later released but still facing charges for participating in banned demonstrations they were reporting on, including AFP photographer Yasin Akgul.
A Defiant Nation Rises
Moreover, Imamoglu’s lawyer, Mohammed Behlavan, was briefly detained Friday on what the mayor called “entirely fabricated pretexts” via X, though he was released by evening. Consequently, these events highlight a nation in turmoil, fiercely resisting perceived injustice.
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