Turkey Arrests Over 1,000 Amid Protests Following Mayor’s Arrest

• Turkey shaken by protests over the imprisonment of Istanbul’s mayor.
• Interior minister reports 123 police officers injured during protests.
• Nine journalists among those detained.

Since protests erupted five days ago over the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Turkish authorities have detained 1,133 individuals across the country, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

The arrest of Imamoglu, who is viewed as a significant political opponent of President Tayyip Erdogan, initiated some of the largest street protests in Turkey in over a decade. A court ordered him jailed on Sunday due to corruption charges, which he fiercely denies.

Despite restrictions on public gatherings in numerous cities, largely peaceful anti-government protests persisted for a fifth consecutive night on Sunday, with hundreds of thousands participating.

Yerlikaya reported that 123 police officers sustained injuries during the demonstrations. He emphasized that the government would not tolerate any attempts to “terrorize the streets.”

Among those detained, nine journalists were apprehended while covering nighttime protests in various cities, noted the Journalists’ Union of Turkey on Monday.

The exact reasons for the journalists’ detentions remain unclear. Notably, an Agence France Presse (AFP) photographer is included among those arrested, according to the union’s post on X.

The opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), has called for protests against the court’s arrest decision, labeling it politicized and undemocratic.

Imamoglu has dismissed the accusations against him as “unimaginable claims and slanders” and has urged for nationwide protests.

Last week, Erdogan stated that the government would not tolerate “any disruption of public order.” His administration refutes claims that the investigations are politically motivated, affirming the independence of the judiciary.

Omer Celik, spokesperson for Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), commented on Monday that the CHP’s protest calls are attempts to distract from the opposition’s shortcomings.

“While democratic protest is a fundamental right, the rhetoric used by the CHP does not reflect the essence of a democratic protest,” Celik added.

Imprisoned ‘without cause’

Imamoglu, 54, was ordered jailed awaiting trial on Sunday, coinciding with the CHP’s primary election to nominate him as their presidential candidate, where he garnered approximately 15 million votes.

News of Imamoglu’s arrest dominated the front pages of Turkish newspapers on Monday, with opposition media suggesting that the mayor’s imprisonment was politically motivated given his status as a credible challenger to Erdogan.

Supporters of the mayor expressed on Monday that Imamoglu’s jailing exemplified a failing justice system in Turkey.

“There’s a clear injustice towards Imamoglu. They have imprisoned him for no reason,” stated Adem Bali, a 22-year-old construction worker.

Cigdem Tatlica, an unemployed 50-year-old, echoed his sentiment, saying, “There is no fairness in Turkey. This system cannot persist.”

In a speech to demonstrators in Istanbul’s Sarachane district outside the municipal building, CHP leader Ozgur Ozel declared that protests would continue until Imamoglu is released.