Mass Protests Erupt in Turkey as Opposition Leader Imamoglu Arrested
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets across Turkey after Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested on corruption charges, sparking the country’s largest protests in over a decade.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s X suspended opposition accounts following Turkish court orders, which the platform has condemned as a violation of free speech.
Nationwide protests erupted in Turkey after opposition leader Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was arrested and charged with corruption.
Imamoglu, who was poised to be the Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) 2028 presidential nominee, denounced the charges as politically motivated, declaring, “I will never bow.”
The demonstrations intensified on Sunday night, with police deploying tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons against protesters gathered near Istanbul’s city hall. Imamoglu’s wife, Dilek Kaya Imamoglu, addressed the crowds, calling the arrest an “injustice” that resonated with the nation. According to AFP, rallies occurred in at least 55 of Turkey’s 81 provinces.
Turkish authorities confirmed that over 700 arrests had been made since the protests began. The Justice Ministry rejected claims that Erdogan influenced Imamoglu’s detention, insisting on judicial independence.
In a parallel development, Elon Musk’s social media platform X suspended hundreds of opposition accounts after complying with 86% of Turkish government requests for content removal in the latter half of 2024. X Global Government Affairs objected to the court orders blocking more than 700 accounts, including those of journalists and political figures, arguing that the move undermines free speech. “X will always defend freedom of speech everywhere we operate,” the platform stated.
Imamoglu, currently held in Silivri prison, has also been suspended as Istanbul’s mayor. His lawyers plan to appeal the decision to revoke his university degree, a move that could jeopardize his presidential candidacy under Turkey’s constitutional requirements. The Supreme Election Council will determine his eligibility.
The CHP reported nearly 15 million votes cast in Sunday’s selection process for its presidential nominee, with Imamoglu as the sole candidate. If convicted, he will be barred from running.
Despite the crackdown, protests remain largely peaceful, with many demonstrators expressing concerns over democracy and justice in Turkey.
