In Istanbul, a massive crowd of protestors gathered once again on a Saturday to express their support for the city’s incarcerated mayor and demand his release.
This demonstration was orchestrated by Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), and represents the latest event in a succession of protests that have seen hundreds of individuals detained. These actions are increasing the pressure on Turkey’s long-term president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ekrem Imamoglu, the Mayor of Istanbul and a significant opponent to Erdogan, was detained on March 19 on charges of corruption and terrorism that many regard as politically motivated. Despite these claims, the government maintains that the judiciary is independent and free from political control.
His initial detention and subsequent formal arrest on March 23 over the corruption charges incited widespread protests across the nation, even in the face of bans on assembly, police suppression, and legal proceedings by authorities.
At the rally, CHP leader Ozgur Ozel addressed the protestors, highlighting the extent of the government’s crackdown, saying, “They’ve detained hundreds of our children, thousands of our youths… arrested hundreds of them.” He continued, “Their sole aim was to intimidate and terrify them, to ensure they never demonstrate again.”
According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, nearly 1,900 people had been detained since the onset of the protests on March 19, with pro-government media outlets reporting that public prosecutors are seeking up to three years of imprisonment for 74 of those detained.
On this occasion, the police kept a distance during the rally, and no new arrests were recorded. Ozel called for the immediate release of Imamoglu, as well as other political prisoners including Selahattin Demirtas, a previous presidential candidate and founder of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party, DEM. “In our envisioned Turkey, presidential candidates will not be imprisoned,” Ozel asserted.
Following his formal arrest, Mayor Imamoglu won a symbolic primary last Sunday to be the CHP’s candidate in a presidential election initially set for 2028 but likely to be held sooner. Ozel mentioned the initiation of a signature campaign for Imamoglu’s release and to advocate for an early election.
In addition to Ozel, other speakers at the rally included Dilek Imamoglu, the mayor’s wife, and Masur Yavas, the prominent Mayor of Ankara and another leading figure in the CHP.