Turkish authorities have arrested 1,133 individuals across the country since protests erupted five days ago in response to the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed on Monday.
The protests, which have grown into the largest anti-government demonstrations in Turkey in over a decade, were sparked by Imamoglu’s detention last Wednesday. The mayor, a key political rival to President Tayyip Erdogan, was jailed on Sunday on charges of corruption, which he vehemently denies. Despite the imposition of street gathering bans in several cities, the protests have remained largely peaceful, with hundreds of thousands participating each night.
Yerlikaya reported that 123 police officers had been injured during the protests, warning that the government would not tolerate “the terrorizing of the streets.”
Among those detained were nine journalists, according to the Journalists’ Union of Turkey, who had been covering the protests in various cities. The reasons behind their detentions remain unclear, though an Agence France Presse (AFP) photographer was among those arrested.
Imamoglu, who leads the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has been at the center of the protests. His party has called the arrest politically motivated, accusing the government of undermining democracy. Imamoglu has described the charges against him as “unimaginable accusations” and urged nationwide protests.
In response, Erdogan stated last week that the government would not tolerate disruptions to public order, asserting that the courts are independent and denying any political motivation behind the investigation.
Omer Celik, spokesperson for Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, accused the CHP of using protests to divert attention from its own shortcomings. “Democratic protest is a fundamental right, but the language used by the CHP is not that of democratic protest,” Celik said.
Imamoglu, 54, was jailed pending trial just as the CHP held a primary election to nominate him as their presidential candidate, garnering 15 million votes in support. His arrest has dominated headlines, with opposition media suggesting it is an attempt to block his challenge to Erdogan in the upcoming election.
Supporters of Imamoglu, including workers and unemployed individuals, expressed outrage over the mayor’s imprisonment. “I think there is an injustice committed against Imamoglu. They put the man in prison for no reason,” said Adem Bali, a 22-year-old construction worker. “This system cannot continue like this,” added Cigdem Tatlica, a 50-year-old unemployed woman.
CHP leader Ozgur Ozel, addressing the crowd during a demonstration in Istanbul’s Sarachane district, vowed to continue the protests until Imamoglu is released.
