Turkey is watching the worst road disturbance in over a decade, after the arrest of Istanbul’s embossed Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a potential opposition candidate for the upcoming presidential presidential presidential presidential presidential president, who is against President Recep Tip Erdogan. Describing the ban on meetings, thousands of people took to the streets in the cities around Turkey against the arrest of Shri Imamoglu.
Addressing a huge crowd of protesters gathering outside the city hall in Istanbul on the fifth evening on Sunday, his wife, his wife, Deilek Kaya Imamoglu warned the authorities that they would face a rationing.
“He will beat you! … You will lose!” He shouted from the stage.
Ms. Imamoglu said, “The injustice was faced by Ekrem … It hit a raga with every conscience. Everyone found themselves something and the injustice that was faced was to the Aqueduction.”
(Source: AFP)
Why are people protesting
Erdogan’s CHP opposition party condemned his arrest as a “political coup”, his supporters claimed that the allegations against him were politicized and its purpose was to prevent him from running for the President in three years.
“Whenever there is a strong rival (for Erdogan), he is always jailed,” said 29 -year -old voter who refused to give his nickname.
“There is still a dictatorship in Türkiye, nothing. It is only a politics in the name,” he told the AFP near the City Hall.
However, some people are also joining the movement, the issue is larger than Mr. Imamoglu and according to a report by Al Jazira, represents extensive conflicts including democracy, economy, education and concerns with health systems.
63 -year -old pharmacist Ayen Okte said that he was not going back.
“Now the Turkish nation is awake. The protests will definitely continue after this. We will defend our rights till the end,” he said.
(Source: AFP)
When did the protest start?
Protests began in Türkiye on Wednesday after the Mayor was arrested in a pre-hit raid by hundreds of police. His supporters gathered at Istanbul University the same evening to reduce the arrest. According to media reports, the movement has been going on since then spreading across the country.
Who is Ekrem Imamoglu?
Shri Imamoglu was elected the mayor of Istanbul in 2019 and was re -re -elected last year. Turkish’s largest city (about 16 million residents) and business centers have become the number one rival of 53 -year -old Mayor Erdogan.
Observers believe that it was a primary primary that triggers the move against Mr. Imamoglu, widely seen as the only politician capable of challenging President Recep Tayip Erdogan.
(Source: AFP)
Who is accused on him?
The mayor was accused of corruption, bribe and “terrorism” due to an election agreement between the CHP and the each party.
According to an AFP report, the Prattyre Detention Order said that “Acrem Imamoglu is being detained to establish and lead a criminal organization; admitting bribes; corruption; illegally recording personal data;
The order stated that “although there is a strong doubt of guilt to the crime of supporting an armed terrorist organization, it is not necessary at this level” to order its custody on these possible allegations “because it has already been decided to imprison him for financial offenses”.
Although the court decided against formal forming its arrest in a separate “terror” investigation, the Interior Ministry said he was “suspended” from the office.
The powerful and popular opposition mayor snatched his title on Sunday and sent to the Western outskirts of Megasity to the Cylivary Jail.
As the court process played, the main opposition CHP party held a long -employed primary employed to be selected as its candidate in the 2028 presidential election.
Opening voting beyond his 1.7 million members, who wanted to vote for anyone, said that in the end he had registered 15 million votes for Mr. Imamoglu. He said, “Of the total 15 million votes, 13,211,000 (not party members) are solidarity votes,” he said.
(Source: AFP)
Imamoglu vows to fight
Mr. Imamoglu has vowed to fight and has gone to jail despite being suspended as Mayor. “This is not a judicial process, it is a (political) execution without test,” he wrote on X in a message through his lawyers.
“I stand long and will keep my head high. Fear cannot stop the unnecessary! In a way, you will be defeated. You will be defeated by our proper reasons, our courage, our humility, and our warm smile. My great nation, do not be unhappy, and will never expect. Better.” He said in another post.
I am long standing and will keep my head high. Fear cannot stop unnecessary!
In a way or any other, you will be defeated. You will be defeated by our proper reason, our courage, our humility and our hot smile.
My great nation,
Don’t be sad, don’t be disappointed, and never lose …
– ekrem amamojlu (international) (@imamoglu_int) March 23, 2025
Controversial time
Mr. Imamoglu was nominated as a CHP candidate for the next presidential election on Sunday, which was prescribed for 2028, in a primary in which he is the only candidate.
On Tuesday, a few hours before his arrest, there was an obstacle in his way before his degree was canceled, as all presidential candidates in the Turkish Constitution require a degree of higher education.
In 2023, Mr. Imamoglu was not kept in the fray by his party in the presidential race on a two -and -a -half -year prison sentence for “insult” of Turkish High Electoral Committee. His appeal is still pending.
The CHP decided to move forward with its primary Sunday and called all the Turks, not even registered with the party, to participate in the hope of converting this election into a referendum. Istanbul Town Hall said 15 million people voted in primary, of which 13 million were not CHP members.
The biggest protest since 2013
The arrest of Shri Imamoglu has given rise to the country’s biggest demonstrations since the 2013 Giji protests, which began at the demolition of a local park in Istanbul. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Istanbul on Friday and Saturday evening, with large demonstrations in other cities, especially Ankara and Izamir.
According to AFP Tally, overall, at least 55 of Türkiye’s 81 provinces or more than two-thirds of the country were held.
Analysts say the protests, under the leadership of most young people, reflect complaints that are beyond the arrest of Mr. Imamoglu. Facing these protests, Turkish authorities have asked X to close more than 700 accounts, the online platform said.
