Istanbul, Turkey — Thousands of Turks escalated protests across the country on Thursday, defying a government ban on street gatherings, to denounce what they call the undemocratic detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The opposition has accused President Tayyip Erdogan of orchestrating the arrest to neutralize a formidable political rival, while the government insists the judiciary’s actions are independent.
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Demonstrators flooded streets outside municipal headquarters, police stations, universities, and public squares nationwide, with clashes breaking out in several areas. Police erected barricades, blocked roads, and deployed trucks with water cannons near the Istanbul police station where Imamoglu is being held. The 54-year-old two-term mayor, widely seen as Erdogan’s chief political opponent, was detained Wednesday on charges of graft and aiding a terrorist organization—allegations the opposition has branded a “coup attempt.” The arrest has ignited international criticism, particularly from European leaders, and fueled a growing domestic crisis.
Protests and Political Firestorm
The detention follows months of legal actions against opposition figures, which critics argue are politically motivated to suppress dissent and undermine electoral prospects—claims Ankara firmly denies. In Istanbul, crowds chanted anti-government slogans and hung banners featuring Imamoglu alongside Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Turkey’s founding leader, and national flags. “They hastily detained our mayor, whom we elected with our votes,” said Ali Izar, an opposition supporter in central Istanbul. “I do not think this is a democratic practice, and I condemn it.”
From inside detention, Imamoglu took to the social media platform X, urging members of the judiciary and Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to resist what he called an injustice. “These events have gone beyond our parties or political ideals,” he wrote. “It is time to raise our voices.” Meanwhile, Ankara imposed a four-day ban on public gatherings and restricted access to some social media platforms to curb communication, detaining dozens for what authorities labeled “provocative posts.”
Opposition Points to Erdogan
Ozgur Ozel, chairman of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), accused Erdogan of targeting Imamoglu to eliminate a key rival ahead of future elections. Speaking from Istanbul’s municipal headquarters—where he vowed to remain overnight until Imamoglu’s release—Ozel claimed the president fears losing to the popular mayor. “If Imamoglu is barred from running for president, the public’s support for him will only grow stronger,” he said in an interview. The CHP plans to formally nominate Imamoglu as its presidential candidate at a vote scheduled for Sunday. “This nation has never forgiven attempts to undermine the legitimacy of the ballot box,” Ozel added.
Erdogan, 71, dismissed the opposition’s outrage as “theatrics” and “empty slogans” during a speech in Ankara. “Their issues are not the country’s issues but the problems of a handful of opportunists within their party headquarters,” he said, rejecting allegations of political interference. The government has warned against linking Erdogan or politics to the arrest, insisting the judiciary operates independently. “Turkey has no time for such distractions,” Erdogan added.
A Deepening Divide
Though national elections are slated for 2028, analysts suggest Erdogan may call an earlier vote if he seeks re-election, with some polls showing Imamoglu leading the president. The mayor’s detention has heightened political uncertainty, reviving memories of the 2013 Gezi Park protests, which sparked a violent state crackdown and marked a turning point in curbing civil disobedience in Turkey. Thursday’s demonstrations signal a rare resurgence of public defiance.
The government’s response—barricades, water cannons, and social media restrictions—has only intensified accusations of authoritarianism. “This is a blatant attempt to sever the opposition’s connection with Istanbul,” Ozel said, pointing to the city’s symbolic and electoral significance. Istanbul, a political and economic powerhouse, has been a battleground between Erdogan’s AKP and the opposition since Imamoglu’s landmark victories in 2019.
International Echoes and Domestic Stakes
The crisis has drawn sharp international scrutiny, with European leaders condemning the arrest as a blow to democratic norms. At home, it underscores a broader pattern of legal pressure on opposition figures, which critics say is designed to weaken their electoral prospects. As protests gain momentum and the opposition rallies support, Turkey faces a pivotal moment. With Imamoglu’s fate hanging in the balance, the standoff in Istanbul could reshape the nation’s political landscape—and Erdogan’s legacy—amid an increasingly volatile backdrop.
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