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The president has denounced mass protests over the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has lashed out at mass protests which have swept the country over the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption and terrorist charges, accusing the demonstrators of vandalism and “street terrorism.”
Imamoglu, a key figure in the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) who is widely viewed as Erdogan’s main political rival, was detained by the Turkish authorities on allegations of leading a criminal organization, accepting bribes, and aiding the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara.
The next presidential election, in which Imamoglu was widely expected to run, is officially scheduled for 2028. Since Erdogan has reached his two-term limit as president, he will have to call an early election or change the constitution in order to run.
In response to the mayor’s arrest, tens of thousands of people took to the streets, with violent clashes ensuing between demonstrators and police. The authorities also imposed a temporary ban on public gatherings and restricted access to social media.
On Friday, Erdogan weighed in on the protests, stating that “Türkiye will not surrender to street terrorism,” while urging Ozgur Ozel, the head of the CHP, “to act responsibly and not to provoke youngsters.”
“The CHP is about to lose its status as a legitimate party due to mounting corruption, problematic rhetoric and links to marginal groups,” Erdogan warned.
The same day, Ozel said he was inviting “tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, and millions to peacefully demonstrate, express our democratic reaction, and exercise our constitutional rights.”
According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, the authorities detained a total of 343 protesters overnight throughout Türkiye during the unrest. He also stressed that officials would not tolerate disruptions to public order or threats to national peace.
