ISTANBUL — Turkish police confronted protesters using pepper spray, plastic pellets, and water cannons in the early hours of Thursday in the nation’s capital during ongoing large-scale anti-government demonstrations, the most significant in over a decade. These protests erupted after Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a significant opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was arrested. Imamoglu, jailed pending trial on allegations of corruption, faces accusations of supporting terrorism, which many deem politically biased. The government maintains the judiciary’s independence, but critics argue the case against Imamoglu is based on unreliable evidence and clandestine testimonies.
Student protesters aimed to march and make a statement near Middle East Technical University, reports indicated. However, they were met with a forceful police presence deploying pepper spray, water cannons, and plastic projectiles. The stalemate saw students taking cover behind a barricade of dumpsters before police moved in for arrests. Melih Meric, a parliamentarian with Imamoglu’s Republican People’s Party (CHP), was caught on video drenched and affected by pepper spray.
In related developments, Imamoglu’s legal representative, Mehmet Pehlivan, was detained without immediate charges, as revealed by posts on Imamoglu’s social media accounts. Imamoglu criticized the arrest, describing it as part of a broader campaign against democracy, calling for his lawyer’s swift release.
According to Interior Minister Ali Yerkikaya, around 1,900 individuals have been apprehended during the eight days of protests. Among them, 260 have been jailed pending trial, while 468 were released under judicial oversight. He mentioned charges like drug offenses and assault, adding that 150 police officers were injured in the chaos, although specifics on other charges were not provided.
The demonstrations have spanned across major Turkish cities, including massive rallies outside Istanbul City Hall, Kadikoy, and Sisli, organized primarily by opposition factions. While many protests have remained peaceful, some have descended into violence prompting police to use heavy-handed tactics like water cannons and tear gas against banned demonstrations in cities including Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. Authorities have continued house raids, mainly targeting individuals associated with leftist groups and civil society organizations.
There has been a media crackdown as eleven journalists were arrested on Wednesday for their protest coverage. While eight journalists were released under judicial control, they still face related charges. Turkey’s broadcasting watchdog issued a 10-day ban against opposition-supporting Sozcu TV for allegedly inciting public unrest through its broadcasts. Other opposition-supporting channels are reportedly also facing penalties.
Erdogan’s communications director, Fahrettin Altun, defended the media restrictions, underlining that public authorities should act against broadcasts promoting hatred and hostility. Altun emphasized that media entities must exercise responsible journalism and should not propagate messages undermining Turkey’s institutions.
In a dramatic episode, the police reportedly seized a bus belonging to CHP lawmakers intending to protest at the broadcasting authority’s headquarters, revealing ongoing tensions between the government and opposition.
In an incident involving foreign media, BBC’s Mark Lowen was deported following his arrest, with Turkish authorities labeling him a “threat to public order.” Reports suggested this action correlated with his coverage of the protests.
Mayor Imamoglu was apprehended in a dawn raid and is now in custody, facing charges from two different investigations involving the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. His detention is seen by many as politically motivated, pointing to concerns about Turkey’s democratic trajectory and economic challenges. As registered on the same day as the CHP’s candidate for the impending presidential elections, Imamoglu’s standing is especially significant, given his historic election victory against Erdogan’s alliance in 2019.