Mass protests sweep Istanbul over mayor’s imprisonment
Hundreds of thousands of protesters in Istanbul and across Turkey are demonstrating against the imprisonment of Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival of President Erdogan.
IRNA- Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have taken to Istanbul’s streets in the largest anti-government protests Turkey has witnessed in over a decade, rallying against the imprisonment of Ekrem Imamoglu, the opposition mayor and a key political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The protests erupted after Imamoglu, Istanbul’s mayor, was detained last week and subsequently jailed pending trial on corruption charges that opposition leaders and Western officials have labeled as politically motivated.
A letter from Imamoglu was read to the massive crowd, eliciting roaring cheers. “I have no fear; you are behind me and by my side. I have no fear because the nation is united. The nation is united against the oppressor.”
“They can imprison me and put me on trial as much as they want, but the nation has shown it will overcome all traps and plots.”
The demonstrations, organized by the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and allied opposition groups, have spread nationwide, with nearly 2,000 detentions reported despite the largely peaceful rallies.
Critics accuse Erdogan’s government of weaponizing the judiciary to sideline a formidable challenger ahead of crucial elections. However, the government denies any interference in the case, maintaining that the judiciary operates independently.
