The protests that commenced in Istanbul on Wednesday have spread to over 55 of Turkey’s 81 provinces, leading to clashes with riot police and marking the most significant street demonstrations the country has experienced in over ten years.
Large crowds assembled outside Istanbul City Hall late Saturday for a fourth consecutive night of protests against the imprisonment of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, which he has labeled as “immoral and unfounded.”
The protests, which commenced in Istanbul on Wednesday, have spread to over 55 of Turkey’s 81 provinces, leading to confrontations with riot police and marking the most significant street demonstrations in over a decade.
Imamoglu was detained on charges of “terrorism” and “corruption” just days before he was expected to be officially nominated as the main opposition CHP candidate for the 2028 presidential election.
Slogans such as “Dictators are cowards!” and “AKP (Turkey’s ruling party), you will not silence us!” were displayed on placards during the Saturday night protest in Istanbul, which appeared larger and more densely packed than the previous evening.
Shortly after midnight (2100 GMT), police charged the gathering at City Hall, deploying tear gas and compelling many to seek refuge inside the building.
Numerous individuals were arrested, as reported by AFP journalists, although no official figures were immediately available.
Earlier, riot police had employed rubber bullets, pepper spray, and percussion grenades during clashes at the edges of the rally, according to AFP correspondents.
In the capital city of Ankara, riot police utilized water cannons to disperse protesters, while in the western coastal city of Izmir, police obstructed a student march that was en route to the local AKP offices.
CHP leader Ozgur Ozel, speaking to the gathered protesters in Istanbul, claimed their numbers exceeded “more than half a million.”
He pledged that the mobilization would “defend” Imamoglu and proceed to the courthouse where the mayor had been taken late Saturday.
The mayor was transported to the courthouse, located approximately 10 kilometers (six miles) from the City Hall demonstration, accompanied by 90 of his co-defendants and secured by numerous riot vans and a substantial police presence.
Imamoglu’s legal representatives stated that his hearing regarding a “terrorism” charge has concluded, while the subsequent hearing concerning a “corruption” charge was set to take place in the early hours of the morning.
A strong security perimeter was established by the police around the courthouse, where approximately 1,000 demonstrators gathered, chanting slogans.
The Turkish lira experienced a decline.
Earlier on Saturday, the 53-year-old mayor condemned the allegations against him as “immoral and unfounded” in a statement issued by City Hall.
“This situation has not only damaged Turkey’s international standing but has also undermined the public’s faith in justice and the economy,” he remarked.
The news of the mayor’s arrest significantly impacted the lira and led to turmoil in Turkey’s financial markets, with the benchmark BIST 100 index closing nearly 8.0 percent lower on Friday.
“We are here today to support the candidate we elected,” stated 30-year-old Aykut Cenk to AFP outside the courthouse, while holding a Turkish flag.
“Just as citizens rallied in support of Erdogan following the July 15 (2016) coup, we are now taking to the streets for Imamoglu,” Cenk expressed.
“We are not adversaries of the state; however, what is occurring is unlawful.”
The unrest has escalated quickly, despite a protest ban in Turkey’s three largest cities and a warning from Erdogan that the authorities would not tolerate “street terror.”
“For four days, they have been doing everything possible to disrupt the peace and divide our people,” Erdogan stated on Saturday.
“The era when politics and justice are influenced by street terror is firmly in the past,” he added.
Earlier that evening, Istanbul Governor Davut Gul announced that authorities would prevent anyone likely to engage in illegal activities from entering or leaving the city.
According to the interior ministry, police have detained 343 individuals since the protests began.
Turkey’s Journalists Union has asserted that the police have “deliberately targeted” journalists, reporting that many have suffered severe beatings, been shot with rubber bullets, and had their equipment damaged.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the “heavy-handed and entirely arbitrary” violence directed at journalists, calling for stringent punishment for those accountable.
In spite of Imamoglu’s detention, the CHP remains committed to proceeding with its primary on Sunday, where it will officially nominate him as the party’s candidate for president.
The party has promised to allow voting for all individuals, not just its members, in an effort to rally significant support for the embattled mayor, who is widely regarded as the only politician capable of challenging Erdogan.
Observers have indicated that the government is likely to attempt to obstruct the voting process.
