Ekrem Imamoglu: Protests erupt in Turkey after Erdogan rival arrested

Protests erupt in Turkey after Erdogan rival arrested

10 hours ago Share Save Selin Girit, Toby Luckhurst and Hafsa Khalil BBC News Share Save

Watch: Istanbul mayor says he's 'facing intimidation' in video message

Protests have erupted in Turkey after authorities detained the mayor of Istanbul, just days before he was due to be selected as a presidential candidate. Ekrem Imamoglu, from the secular Republican People's Party (CHP), is seen as one of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's strongest political rivals. Prosecutors accused him of corruption and aiding a terrorist group, calling him a "criminal organisation leader suspect". Police detained 100 people - including other politicians, journalists and businessmen - as part of the investigation, and the Istanbul governor's office has imposed four days of restrictions in the city. Imamoglu said online "the will of the people cannot be silenced".

Protesters have taken to the streets and university campuses, and in underground stations, with crowds chanting anti-government slogans. It is a display of public anger not seen in years. There were reports of clashes between protesters and police in Turkey's largest city. Footage from Reuters news agency shows police using pepper spray to disperse crowds outside Istanbul University. Thousands of people rallied in the cold in front of the city hall, shouting: "Erdogan, dictator!" and "Imamoglu, you are not alone!" The government has banned public gatherings in Istanbul as part of the four days of restrictions. But more protests are anticipated nationwide as opposition leaders, including Imamoglu's wife, urge people to "raise their voices". Many streets in Istanbul have also been closed to traffic, while some metro lines have also cancelled their services. In a social media video Imamoglu said he filmed while police were outside his home, he vowed to "stand resolute" for the people of Turkey "and all who uphold democracy and justice worldwide". And in a handwritten note posted on his X account after his arrest, he said the people of Turkey would respond to "the lies, the conspiracies and the traps" against him. UK-based internet watchdog Netblocks said on Wednesday Turkey had severely restricted access to social media sites like X, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

'A coup against our next president'

The arrest comes as part of a major crackdown nationwide in recent months, targeting opposition politicians, municipalities, journalists and figures in the entertainment industry. Following the Istanbul mayor's arrest, concerns over Turkey's shift toward autocracy were expressed on social media, with some calling for an opposition boycott of the upcoming presidential elections, arguing that a fair and democratic vote is no longer possible. Imamoglu's party, the CHP, even condemned the arrests as "a coup against our next president", a sentiment widely echoed by pro-opposition voices. But Turkey's justice minister criticised those who linked Erdogan to the arrests. Yilmaz Tunc said it was "extremely dangerous and wrong" to suggest this was a political move, insisting that nobody was above the law in Turkey. Erdogan and his party have also denied the claims, insisting that Turkey's judiciary is independent. He has been in power for 22 years. Last year, Imamoglu won a second term as Istanbul's mayor, when his CHP party swept local elections there and in Ankara. It was the first time since Erdogan came to power that his party was defeated across the country at the ballot box. The elections were also a personal blow to the president, who grew up in and became mayor of Istanbul on his rise to power. Dozens of police officers were involved in the early-morning raid on Imamoglu's house in Istanbul. The CHP's presidential candidate selection, in which Imamoglu is the only person running, is set to take place on Sunday.

Getty Images The protests are a display of public anger not seen in Turkey for years