Over 1,400 people detained as demonstrations persist in Turkey, defying an imposed ban
Turkish authorities have taken more than 1,400 demonstrators into custody amid ongoing street protests in defiance of a governmental ban on public gatherings. The unrest follows the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, sparking widespread discontent across major cities.
For the seventh consecutive night, demonstrators convened in Istanbul on Tuesday to protest the imprisonment of Imamoglu, a prominent political adversary of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced via a post on social media platform X that the nation’s police have apprehended 1,418 individuals in connection with participation in “illegal demonstrations.” He issued a stark warning that authorities would make “no concessions” toward individuals who seek to “terrorize the streets.”
Authorities have detained seven journalists, charging them with “participation in unauthorized rallies and marches.”
The media freedom organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the recent arrests, labeling them as “scandalous.” Erol Onderoglu, the RSF representative for Turkey, stated that the incident “reflects a very serious situation in Turkey.”
During a Ramadan fast-breaking meal on Tuesday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed a gathering of young individuals, where he condemned recent rallies as acts of “street terror.” He called for patience and level-headedness, emphasizing the importance of maintaining composure during these “very sensitive days.”
He declared that individuals inciting terror in the streets and attempting to ignite chaos within the country are left with no refuge, describing their chosen course as a dead end.
While he delivered his speech, thousands of demonstrators marched through Istanbul’s Sisli district, calling for the government’s resignation. Meanwhile, a significant contingent of riot police was stationed nearby, maintaining a watchful presence.
Demonstrators brandished flags and banners emblazoned with the slogan “Tayyip resign!” as individuals in nearby apartments joined in solidarity, clattering pots and pans in support.
In a continuing wave of demonstrations, thousands gathered for the seventh consecutive evening in a protest spearheaded by the Republican People’s Party (CHP), led by Ekrem Imamoglu. The rally took place in the Sarachane district, the site of Istanbul’s city hall, where Imamoglu held office in 2019.
The head of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Ozgur Ozel, has announced plans for a large-scale rally in Istanbul scheduled for Saturday. Describing the event as potentially the “largest open-air referendum in history,” Ozel aims to leverage this gathering as a platform to advocate for early elections.
Ozel addressed demonstrators, stating their collective fatigue and demand for early elections.
Turkey has witnessed its largest wave of protests in more than ten years, triggered by the arrest of Imamoglu on corruption charges last week. Opposition supporters have criticized the arrest, viewing it as a clear infringement on the rule of law.
Authorities have responded with a robust crackdown, deploying riot police equipped with water cannons, pepper spray, and rubber bullets to disperse protesters.
The United Nations has expressed concern regarding Turkey’s widespread detentions and the implementation of what it describes as an “unlawful blanket ban on protests.” The UN has called on Turkish authorities to investigate any instances of unlawful force used in these actions.
