On Wednesday, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has officially been arrested. Since then, Turkey has seen widespread protests. People are in the streets of several cities to show their anger. Imamoglu was arrested with other members.
According to organizers, around 300,000 protesters gathered outside Istanbul City Hall on Friday evening. Clashes broke out on the edges of the rally. Police used tear gas, rubber bullets, and pepper spray. The opposition sees his arrest as a political move to eliminate Erdogan’s key challenger.
Protests All-Around
After his arrest, the protests have spread quickly. In just 48 hours, they reached more than two-thirds of Turkey’s 81 provinces. Even traditional AKP strongholds, like Konya, Trabzon, and Rize, saw demonstrations. These are Turkey’s biggest protests since 2013, when demonstrations against the demolition of Gezi Park turned into a nationwide movement. According to AFP, many young protesters carried banners referencing Gezi Park. One read, “We’re the children of the ‘raiders’ who have now grown up.” Erdogan had once called Gezi Park protesters “raiders” when he was prime minister.
On Friday, Istanbul police used force to stop protesters near the city’s historic aqueduct. Officers fired tear gas, rubber bullets, and pepper spray. Protesters responded by throwing flares and stones. For the third night in a row, authorities broke up gatherings outside City Hall. Republican People’s Party leader Ozgur Ozel gave a speech in support of Imamoglu. Similar police actions took place in Ankara and Izmir. Television footage showed officers forcibly dispersing protesters. Thousands of people marched in various cities, demanding Erdogan’s resignation.
A Short Profile of Imamoglu
Ekrem Imamoglu is a prominent Turkish politician and a key figure in the opposition against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Born on June 4, 1970, in the Trabzon province of Turkey, Imamoglu pursued his education in business administration at Istanbul University. Before entering politics, he worked in the construction sector and managed his family’s business. His background in business shaped his pragmatic approach to politics.
Imamoglu entered politics as a member of the Republican People’s Party (CHP). The CHP is Turkey’s main opposition party. He first gained attention in 2014 when he was elected as the mayor of Beylikdüzü, a district in Istanbul. During his tenure, he became famous because he brought development projects and provided residence to the people. His success in Beylikdüzü helped him secure the CHP’s nomination for the Istanbul mayoral election in 2019.
The 2019 Istanbul mayoral election was a turning point in Turkish politics. Imamoglu ran against Binali Yıldırım, a senior member of Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) and a former Prime Minister. Imamoglu emerged victorious in the election but the election was called off on charges of impropriety. The election was re-held in June 2019, and Imamoglu won by a still wider margin. The victory was a serious setback for Erdogan, as Istanbul had been under the AKP’s control for more than 25 years.
Throughout his term as mayor, Imamoglu placed emphasis on transparency, social justice, and environmentally friendly growth. He launched policies for improved public services, such as affordable housing, transport reform, and environmental projects. His leadership, grounded in inclusiveness and accountability, made him immensely popular in Istanbul and the entire country of Turkey. His increased popularity fueled speculation that he could run against Erdogan in the 2023 presidential elections, but the CHP endorsed Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as their candidate.
He did not contest the presidential election but continued to be an important opposition figure in Turkish politics. Due to his continued criticism, he faced legal and political attacks. In 2022, he received two years and seven months sentence in prison for insulting public officials. The conviction was widely seen as politically motivated and aimed at weakening his influence before future elections. However, Imamoglu remained active in politics and continued his role as mayor.
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Why Was Imamoglu Arrested?
Imamoglu was taken into custody in a raid at his home. He is accused of financial misconduct and having ties to Kurdish militants. Dozens of other political figures were arrested with him, including two district mayors.
On Saturday, Cumhuriyet newspaper reported that Imamoglu was questioned for five hours about alleged links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The previous day, he had already faced four hours of questioning over corruption charges. Imamoglu has denied all allegations. He is expected to appear in court later for further questioning and possible charges.
Government Cracks Down on Protests
The government is taking a tough stance against the demonstrations. Erdogan has linked the opposition to corruption and terrorism. Authorities in Ankara and Izmir have banned protests for five days, following similar restrictions in Istanbul. Erdogan claimed that the unrest was not genuine. “An anti-corruption operation in Istanbul is being used as an excuse to stir chaos in our streets,” he said. “We won’t let a few opportunists bring disorder to Turkey just to protect their corruption schemes.” Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said 343 people were detained during Friday’s protests. He warned that there would be “zero tolerance” for those disturbing public order.
Opposition Calls Imamoglu’s Arrest a ‘Coup’
According to the opposition, this is a political move to remove Imamoglu as an opposition in the 2028 presidential elections. The government said that the judiciary is independent and there is no political interference. Imamoglu spoke out on social media, calling his arrest a “coup.” He criticized the government’s handling of the economy and the justice system.
“With your support, we will first defeat this coup,” he wrote. “Then, we will remove those responsible.”