Istanbul: Turkish authorities have detained multiple journalists from their homes, the country’s media workers’ union reported Monday, calling it part of a broader crackdown amid growing unrest over the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu—a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
On Sunday, a court formally arrested Imamoglu on corruption charges, ordering him jailed pending trial. His detention last Wednesday sparked Türkiye’s largest wave of street protests in over a decade, raising serious concerns about democracy and the rule of law.
Since March 19, when Imamoglu was arrested at his home, 1,133 people have been detained, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced. He also reported that 123 police officers were injured during the demonstrations, and authorities had seized dangerous materials such as acid, firebombs, and knives.
The minister claimed that some of those detained had ties to groups designated as terrorist organizations, while others had criminal records. He urged the public not to fall for “provocations.”
Erdogan Calls Protests a ‘Movement of Violence’
Speaking on Monday, Erdogan condemned the protests, describing them as a “movement of violence.” He also held Imamoglu’s opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), responsible for injuries to police officers and damage to public property.
Imamoglu’s imprisonment is widely seen as a political maneuver to eliminate a major challenger to Erdogan ahead of the next presidential election, currently set for 2028. However, government officials strongly reject these allegations, insisting that Türkiye’s judiciary remains independent.
The Istanbul mayor has been charged with running a criminal organization, accepting bribes, extortion, illegal data collection, and bid-rigging—accusations he has denied.
Following his arrest, Imamoglu was transferred to a prison west of Istanbul. Meanwhile, his opposition party held a primary election with over 1.7 million members participating, ultimately endorsing him as their candidate for the next presidential race.
