Massive demonstrations have erupted across Türkiye following the detention and imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has spearheaded the protests, calling for his immediate release and accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of using the judiciary to eliminate his main political rival.
According to news agency Reuters, tens of thousands gathered at a rally in Maltepe on Istanbul’s Asian side on Saturday, waving Turkish flags and chanting in support of İmamoğlu. A letter from the jailed mayor was read out to the cheering crowd: “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.”
Protests have spread nationwide, with nearly 1,900 people arrested over the past ten days, including 13 journalists and İmamoğlu’s lawyer. Turkish authorities conducted pre-dawn raids to detain demonstrators, while security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray on crowds, which Human Rights Watch described as an “unwarranted and unlawful use of police force.”
CHP leader Özgür Özel, addressing the rally, said, “Millions are demanding İmamoğlu’s release and fresh elections.” He denounced the charges against the mayor as politically motivated and urged a boycott of media outlets, brands, and stores seen as pro-Erdoğan.
Speaking to Le Monde, Özel announced that weekly protests would be held across Türkiye, adding, “We believe the arrests will slow down from now.” He warned that he was prepared to face imprisonment himself if necessary: “I am ready to take the risk of spending eight to ten years in prison because if we don’t stop this attempted coup, it will mean the end of the ballot box.”
The backlash has also impacted press freedom. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was deported after covering the demonstrations, with Türkiye’s presidential communications directorate claiming he lacked press accreditation. As reported by The Guardian, a Swedish journalist who travelled to Türkiye to report on the protests was also arrested, along with two Turkish journalists.
İmamoğlu, in a message from prison published by The New York Times, accused Western leaders of failing to strongly condemn his arrest. “Washington merely expressed ‘concerns regarding recent arrests and protests’ in Türkiye. With few exceptions, European leaders have failed to offer a strong response,” he wrote.
Realising He Cannot Defeat Me, Türkiye’s President Resorted To Other Means: İmamoğlu
İmamoğlu, who won the Istanbul mayoral election in 2019 and secured re-election last year despite pressure from Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is widely seen as the only opposition figure capable of defeating Erdoğan in future elections. He was officially nominated as the CHP’s presidential candidate in a symbolic primary where 15 million people voted on the same day he was imprisoned.
In his letter from prison, İmamoğlu alleged that Erdoğan was resorting to undemocratic tactics to remove him: “Realising he cannot defeat me at the ballot box, Türkiye’s president has resorted to other means: having his main political opponent arrested on charges of corruption, bribery, leading a criminal network, and aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, even though the charges lack credible evidence.”
He further warned that his detention marked a “new phase in Türkiye’s slide into authoritarianism”, adding, “A country with a long democratic tradition now faces the serious risk of passing the point of no return.”
Meanwhile, Erdoğan has dismissed the protests as a “show” and warned of legal consequences for demonstrators. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 260 of the detained protesters had been jailed pending trial.
The crisis has also sent shockwaves through Türkiye’s financial markets, prompting the central bank to intervene to stabilise the lira. The Turkish government has downplayed concerns, with the central bank asserting that the economy’s core fundamentals remain intact.
As tensions continue to escalate, CHP leaders have vowed to sustain pressure with continued mass demonstrations, framing the battle for İmamoğlu’s release as a broader struggle for Türkiye’s democracy.
Massive demonstrations have erupted across Türkiye following the detention and imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has spearheaded the protests, calling for his immediate release and accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of using the judiciary to eliminate his main political rival.
According to news agency Reuters, tens of thousands gathered at a rally in Maltepe on Istanbul’s Asian side on Saturday, waving Turkish flags and chanting in support of İmamoğlu. A letter from the jailed mayor was read out to the cheering crowd: “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.”
Protests have spread nationwide, with nearly 1,900 people arrested over the past ten days, including 13 journalists and İmamoğlu’s lawyer. Turkish authorities conducted pre-dawn raids to detain demonstrators, while security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray on crowds, which Human Rights Watch described as an “unwarranted and unlawful use of police force.”
CHP leader Özgür Özel, addressing the rally, said, “Millions are demanding İmamoğlu’s release and fresh elections.” He denounced the charges against the mayor as politically motivated and urged a boycott of media outlets, brands, and stores seen as pro-Erdoğan.
Speaking to Le Monde, Özel announced that weekly protests would be held across Türkiye, adding, “We believe the arrests will slow down from now.” He warned that he was prepared to face imprisonment himself if necessary: “I am ready to take the risk of spending eight to ten years in prison because if we don’t stop this attempted coup, it will mean the end of the ballot box.”
The backlash has also impacted press freedom. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was deported after covering the demonstrations, with Türkiye’s presidential communications directorate claiming he lacked press accreditation. As reported by The Guardian, a Swedish journalist who travelled to Türkiye to report on the protests was also arrested, along with two Turkish journalists.
İmamoğlu, in a message from prison published by The New York Times, accused Western leaders of failing to strongly condemn his arrest. “Washington merely expressed ‘concerns regarding recent arrests and protests’ in Türkiye. With few exceptions, European leaders have failed to offer a strong response,” he wrote.
Realising He Cannot Defeat Me, Türkiye’s President Resorted To Other Means: İmamoğlu
İmamoğlu, who won the Istanbul mayoral election in 2019 and secured re-election last year despite pressure from Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is widely seen as the only opposition figure capable of defeating Erdoğan in future elections. He was officially nominated as the CHP’s presidential candidate in a symbolic primary where 15 million people voted on the same day he was imprisoned.
In his letter from prison, İmamoğlu alleged that Erdoğan was resorting to undemocratic tactics to remove him: “Realising he cannot defeat me at the ballot box, Türkiye’s president has resorted to other means: having his main political opponent arrested on charges of corruption, bribery, leading a criminal network, and aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, even though the charges lack credible evidence.”
He further warned that his detention marked a “new phase in Türkiye’s slide into authoritarianism”, adding, “A country with a long democratic tradition now faces the serious risk of passing the point of no return.”
Meanwhile, Erdoğan has dismissed the protests as a “show” and warned of legal consequences for demonstrators. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 260 of the detained protesters had been jailed pending trial.
The crisis has also sent shockwaves through Türkiye’s financial markets, prompting the central bank to intervene to stabilise the lira. The Turkish government has downplayed concerns, with the central bank asserting that the economy’s core fundamentals remain intact.
As tensions continue to escalate, CHP leaders have vowed to sustain pressure with continued mass demonstrations, framing the battle for İmamoğlu’s release as a broader struggle for Türkiye’s democracy.
Massive demonstrations have erupted across Türkiye following the detention and imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has spearheaded the protests, calling for his immediate release and accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of using the judiciary to eliminate his main political rival.
According to news agency Reuters, tens of thousands gathered at a rally in Maltepe on Istanbul’s Asian side on Saturday, waving Turkish flags and chanting in support of İmamoğlu. A letter from the jailed mayor was read out to the cheering crowd: “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.”
Protests have spread nationwide, with nearly 1,900 people arrested over the past ten days, including 13 journalists and İmamoğlu’s lawyer. Turkish authorities conducted pre-dawn raids to detain demonstrators, while security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray on crowds, which Human Rights Watch described as an “unwarranted and unlawful use of police force.”
CHP leader Özgür Özel, addressing the rally, said, “Millions are demanding İmamoğlu’s release and fresh elections.” He denounced the charges against the mayor as politically motivated and urged a boycott of media outlets, brands, and stores seen as pro-Erdoğan.
Speaking to Le Monde, Özel announced that weekly protests would be held across Türkiye, adding, “We believe the arrests will slow down from now.” He warned that he was prepared to face imprisonment himself if necessary: “I am ready to take the risk of spending eight to ten years in prison because if we don’t stop this attempted coup, it will mean the end of the ballot box.”
The backlash has also impacted press freedom. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was deported after covering the demonstrations, with Türkiye’s presidential communications directorate claiming he lacked press accreditation. As reported by The Guardian, a Swedish journalist who travelled to Türkiye to report on the protests was also arrested, along with two Turkish journalists.
İmamoğlu, in a message from prison published by The New York Times, accused Western leaders of failing to strongly condemn his arrest. “Washington merely expressed ‘concerns regarding recent arrests and protests’ in Türkiye. With few exceptions, European leaders have failed to offer a strong response,” he wrote.
Realising He Cannot Defeat Me, Türkiye’s President Resorted To Other Means: İmamoğlu
İmamoğlu, who won the Istanbul mayoral election in 2019 and secured re-election last year despite pressure from Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is widely seen as the only opposition figure capable of defeating Erdoğan in future elections. He was officially nominated as the CHP’s presidential candidate in a symbolic primary where 15 million people voted on the same day he was imprisoned.
In his letter from prison, İmamoğlu alleged that Erdoğan was resorting to undemocratic tactics to remove him: “Realising he cannot defeat me at the ballot box, Türkiye’s president has resorted to other means: having his main political opponent arrested on charges of corruption, bribery, leading a criminal network, and aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, even though the charges lack credible evidence.”
He further warned that his detention marked a “new phase in Türkiye’s slide into authoritarianism”, adding, “A country with a long democratic tradition now faces the serious risk of passing the point of no return.”
Meanwhile, Erdoğan has dismissed the protests as a “show” and warned of legal consequences for demonstrators. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 260 of the detained protesters had been jailed pending trial.
The crisis has also sent shockwaves through Türkiye’s financial markets, prompting the central bank to intervene to stabilise the lira. The Turkish government has downplayed concerns, with the central bank asserting that the economy’s core fundamentals remain intact.
As tensions continue to escalate, CHP leaders have vowed to sustain pressure with continued mass demonstrations, framing the battle for İmamoğlu’s release as a broader struggle for Türkiye’s democracy.
Massive demonstrations have erupted across Türkiye following the detention and imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has spearheaded the protests, calling for his immediate release and accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of using the judiciary to eliminate his main political rival.
According to news agency Reuters, tens of thousands gathered at a rally in Maltepe on Istanbul’s Asian side on Saturday, waving Turkish flags and chanting in support of İmamoğlu. A letter from the jailed mayor was read out to the cheering crowd: “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.”
Protests have spread nationwide, with nearly 1,900 people arrested over the past ten days, including 13 journalists and İmamoğlu’s lawyer. Turkish authorities conducted pre-dawn raids to detain demonstrators, while security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray on crowds, which Human Rights Watch described as an “unwarranted and unlawful use of police force.”
CHP leader Özgür Özel, addressing the rally, said, “Millions are demanding İmamoğlu’s release and fresh elections.” He denounced the charges against the mayor as politically motivated and urged a boycott of media outlets, brands, and stores seen as pro-Erdoğan.
Speaking to Le Monde, Özel announced that weekly protests would be held across Türkiye, adding, “We believe the arrests will slow down from now.” He warned that he was prepared to face imprisonment himself if necessary: “I am ready to take the risk of spending eight to ten years in prison because if we don’t stop this attempted coup, it will mean the end of the ballot box.”
The backlash has also impacted press freedom. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was deported after covering the demonstrations, with Türkiye’s presidential communications directorate claiming he lacked press accreditation. As reported by The Guardian, a Swedish journalist who travelled to Türkiye to report on the protests was also arrested, along with two Turkish journalists.
İmamoğlu, in a message from prison published by The New York Times, accused Western leaders of failing to strongly condemn his arrest. “Washington merely expressed ‘concerns regarding recent arrests and protests’ in Türkiye. With few exceptions, European leaders have failed to offer a strong response,” he wrote.
Realising He Cannot Defeat Me, Türkiye’s President Resorted To Other Means: İmamoğlu
İmamoğlu, who won the Istanbul mayoral election in 2019 and secured re-election last year despite pressure from Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is widely seen as the only opposition figure capable of defeating Erdoğan in future elections. He was officially nominated as the CHP’s presidential candidate in a symbolic primary where 15 million people voted on the same day he was imprisoned.
In his letter from prison, İmamoğlu alleged that Erdoğan was resorting to undemocratic tactics to remove him: “Realising he cannot defeat me at the ballot box, Türkiye’s president has resorted to other means: having his main political opponent arrested on charges of corruption, bribery, leading a criminal network, and aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, even though the charges lack credible evidence.”
He further warned that his detention marked a “new phase in Türkiye’s slide into authoritarianism”, adding, “A country with a long democratic tradition now faces the serious risk of passing the point of no return.”
Meanwhile, Erdoğan has dismissed the protests as a “show” and warned of legal consequences for demonstrators. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 260 of the detained protesters had been jailed pending trial.
The crisis has also sent shockwaves through Türkiye’s financial markets, prompting the central bank to intervene to stabilise the lira. The Turkish government has downplayed concerns, with the central bank asserting that the economy’s core fundamentals remain intact.
As tensions continue to escalate, CHP leaders have vowed to sustain pressure with continued mass demonstrations, framing the battle for İmamoğlu’s release as a broader struggle for Türkiye’s democracy.
Massive demonstrations have erupted across Türkiye following the detention and imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has spearheaded the protests, calling for his immediate release and accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of using the judiciary to eliminate his main political rival.
According to news agency Reuters, tens of thousands gathered at a rally in Maltepe on Istanbul’s Asian side on Saturday, waving Turkish flags and chanting in support of İmamoğlu. A letter from the jailed mayor was read out to the cheering crowd: “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.”
Protests have spread nationwide, with nearly 1,900 people arrested over the past ten days, including 13 journalists and İmamoğlu’s lawyer. Turkish authorities conducted pre-dawn raids to detain demonstrators, while security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray on crowds, which Human Rights Watch described as an “unwarranted and unlawful use of police force.”
CHP leader Özgür Özel, addressing the rally, said, “Millions are demanding İmamoğlu’s release and fresh elections.” He denounced the charges against the mayor as politically motivated and urged a boycott of media outlets, brands, and stores seen as pro-Erdoğan.
Speaking to Le Monde, Özel announced that weekly protests would be held across Türkiye, adding, “We believe the arrests will slow down from now.” He warned that he was prepared to face imprisonment himself if necessary: “I am ready to take the risk of spending eight to ten years in prison because if we don’t stop this attempted coup, it will mean the end of the ballot box.”
The backlash has also impacted press freedom. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was deported after covering the demonstrations, with Türkiye’s presidential communications directorate claiming he lacked press accreditation. As reported by The Guardian, a Swedish journalist who travelled to Türkiye to report on the protests was also arrested, along with two Turkish journalists.
İmamoğlu, in a message from prison published by The New York Times, accused Western leaders of failing to strongly condemn his arrest. “Washington merely expressed ‘concerns regarding recent arrests and protests’ in Türkiye. With few exceptions, European leaders have failed to offer a strong response,” he wrote.
Realising He Cannot Defeat Me, Türkiye’s President Resorted To Other Means: İmamoğlu
İmamoğlu, who won the Istanbul mayoral election in 2019 and secured re-election last year despite pressure from Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is widely seen as the only opposition figure capable of defeating Erdoğan in future elections. He was officially nominated as the CHP’s presidential candidate in a symbolic primary where 15 million people voted on the same day he was imprisoned.
In his letter from prison, İmamoğlu alleged that Erdoğan was resorting to undemocratic tactics to remove him: “Realising he cannot defeat me at the ballot box, Türkiye’s president has resorted to other means: having his main political opponent arrested on charges of corruption, bribery, leading a criminal network, and aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, even though the charges lack credible evidence.”
He further warned that his detention marked a “new phase in Türkiye’s slide into authoritarianism”, adding, “A country with a long democratic tradition now faces the serious risk of passing the point of no return.”
Meanwhile, Erdoğan has dismissed the protests as a “show” and warned of legal consequences for demonstrators. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 260 of the detained protesters had been jailed pending trial.
The crisis has also sent shockwaves through Türkiye’s financial markets, prompting the central bank to intervene to stabilise the lira. The Turkish government has downplayed concerns, with the central bank asserting that the economy’s core fundamentals remain intact.
As tensions continue to escalate, CHP leaders have vowed to sustain pressure with continued mass demonstrations, framing the battle for İmamoğlu’s release as a broader struggle for Türkiye’s democracy.
Massive demonstrations have erupted across Türkiye following the detention and imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has spearheaded the protests, calling for his immediate release and accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of using the judiciary to eliminate his main political rival.
According to news agency Reuters, tens of thousands gathered at a rally in Maltepe on Istanbul’s Asian side on Saturday, waving Turkish flags and chanting in support of İmamoğlu. A letter from the jailed mayor was read out to the cheering crowd: “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.”
Protests have spread nationwide, with nearly 1,900 people arrested over the past ten days, including 13 journalists and İmamoğlu’s lawyer. Turkish authorities conducted pre-dawn raids to detain demonstrators, while security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray on crowds, which Human Rights Watch described as an “unwarranted and unlawful use of police force.”
CHP leader Özgür Özel, addressing the rally, said, “Millions are demanding İmamoğlu’s release and fresh elections.” He denounced the charges against the mayor as politically motivated and urged a boycott of media outlets, brands, and stores seen as pro-Erdoğan.
Speaking to Le Monde, Özel announced that weekly protests would be held across Türkiye, adding, “We believe the arrests will slow down from now.” He warned that he was prepared to face imprisonment himself if necessary: “I am ready to take the risk of spending eight to ten years in prison because if we don’t stop this attempted coup, it will mean the end of the ballot box.”
The backlash has also impacted press freedom. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was deported after covering the demonstrations, with Türkiye’s presidential communications directorate claiming he lacked press accreditation. As reported by The Guardian, a Swedish journalist who travelled to Türkiye to report on the protests was also arrested, along with two Turkish journalists.
İmamoğlu, in a message from prison published by The New York Times, accused Western leaders of failing to strongly condemn his arrest. “Washington merely expressed ‘concerns regarding recent arrests and protests’ in Türkiye. With few exceptions, European leaders have failed to offer a strong response,” he wrote.
Realising He Cannot Defeat Me, Türkiye’s President Resorted To Other Means: İmamoğlu
İmamoğlu, who won the Istanbul mayoral election in 2019 and secured re-election last year despite pressure from Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is widely seen as the only opposition figure capable of defeating Erdoğan in future elections. He was officially nominated as the CHP’s presidential candidate in a symbolic primary where 15 million people voted on the same day he was imprisoned.
In his letter from prison, İmamoğlu alleged that Erdoğan was resorting to undemocratic tactics to remove him: “Realising he cannot defeat me at the ballot box, Türkiye’s president has resorted to other means: having his main political opponent arrested on charges of corruption, bribery, leading a criminal network, and aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, even though the charges lack credible evidence.”
He further warned that his detention marked a “new phase in Türkiye’s slide into authoritarianism”, adding, “A country with a long democratic tradition now faces the serious risk of passing the point of no return.”
Meanwhile, Erdoğan has dismissed the protests as a “show” and warned of legal consequences for demonstrators. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 260 of the detained protesters had been jailed pending trial.
The crisis has also sent shockwaves through Türkiye’s financial markets, prompting the central bank to intervene to stabilise the lira. The Turkish government has downplayed concerns, with the central bank asserting that the economy’s core fundamentals remain intact.
As tensions continue to escalate, CHP leaders have vowed to sustain pressure with continued mass demonstrations, framing the battle for İmamoğlu’s release as a broader struggle for Türkiye’s democracy.
Massive demonstrations have erupted across Türkiye following the detention and imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has spearheaded the protests, calling for his immediate release and accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of using the judiciary to eliminate his main political rival.
According to news agency Reuters, tens of thousands gathered at a rally in Maltepe on Istanbul’s Asian side on Saturday, waving Turkish flags and chanting in support of İmamoğlu. A letter from the jailed mayor was read out to the cheering crowd: “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.”
Protests have spread nationwide, with nearly 1,900 people arrested over the past ten days, including 13 journalists and İmamoğlu’s lawyer. Turkish authorities conducted pre-dawn raids to detain demonstrators, while security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray on crowds, which Human Rights Watch described as an “unwarranted and unlawful use of police force.”
CHP leader Özgür Özel, addressing the rally, said, “Millions are demanding İmamoğlu’s release and fresh elections.” He denounced the charges against the mayor as politically motivated and urged a boycott of media outlets, brands, and stores seen as pro-Erdoğan.
Speaking to Le Monde, Özel announced that weekly protests would be held across Türkiye, adding, “We believe the arrests will slow down from now.” He warned that he was prepared to face imprisonment himself if necessary: “I am ready to take the risk of spending eight to ten years in prison because if we don’t stop this attempted coup, it will mean the end of the ballot box.”
The backlash has also impacted press freedom. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was deported after covering the demonstrations, with Türkiye’s presidential communications directorate claiming he lacked press accreditation. As reported by The Guardian, a Swedish journalist who travelled to Türkiye to report on the protests was also arrested, along with two Turkish journalists.
İmamoğlu, in a message from prison published by The New York Times, accused Western leaders of failing to strongly condemn his arrest. “Washington merely expressed ‘concerns regarding recent arrests and protests’ in Türkiye. With few exceptions, European leaders have failed to offer a strong response,” he wrote.
Realising He Cannot Defeat Me, Türkiye’s President Resorted To Other Means: İmamoğlu
İmamoğlu, who won the Istanbul mayoral election in 2019 and secured re-election last year despite pressure from Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is widely seen as the only opposition figure capable of defeating Erdoğan in future elections. He was officially nominated as the CHP’s presidential candidate in a symbolic primary where 15 million people voted on the same day he was imprisoned.
In his letter from prison, İmamoğlu alleged that Erdoğan was resorting to undemocratic tactics to remove him: “Realising he cannot defeat me at the ballot box, Türkiye’s president has resorted to other means: having his main political opponent arrested on charges of corruption, bribery, leading a criminal network, and aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, even though the charges lack credible evidence.”
He further warned that his detention marked a “new phase in Türkiye’s slide into authoritarianism”, adding, “A country with a long democratic tradition now faces the serious risk of passing the point of no return.”
Meanwhile, Erdoğan has dismissed the protests as a “show” and warned of legal consequences for demonstrators. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 260 of the detained protesters had been jailed pending trial.
The crisis has also sent shockwaves through Türkiye’s financial markets, prompting the central bank to intervene to stabilise the lira. The Turkish government has downplayed concerns, with the central bank asserting that the economy’s core fundamentals remain intact.
As tensions continue to escalate, CHP leaders have vowed to sustain pressure with continued mass demonstrations, framing the battle for İmamoğlu’s release as a broader struggle for Türkiye’s democracy.
Massive demonstrations have erupted across Türkiye following the detention and imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has spearheaded the protests, calling for his immediate release and accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of using the judiciary to eliminate his main political rival.
According to news agency Reuters, tens of thousands gathered at a rally in Maltepe on Istanbul’s Asian side on Saturday, waving Turkish flags and chanting in support of İmamoğlu. A letter from the jailed mayor was read out to the cheering crowd: “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.”
Protests have spread nationwide, with nearly 1,900 people arrested over the past ten days, including 13 journalists and İmamoğlu’s lawyer. Turkish authorities conducted pre-dawn raids to detain demonstrators, while security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray on crowds, which Human Rights Watch described as an “unwarranted and unlawful use of police force.”
CHP leader Özgür Özel, addressing the rally, said, “Millions are demanding İmamoğlu’s release and fresh elections.” He denounced the charges against the mayor as politically motivated and urged a boycott of media outlets, brands, and stores seen as pro-Erdoğan.
Speaking to Le Monde, Özel announced that weekly protests would be held across Türkiye, adding, “We believe the arrests will slow down from now.” He warned that he was prepared to face imprisonment himself if necessary: “I am ready to take the risk of spending eight to ten years in prison because if we don’t stop this attempted coup, it will mean the end of the ballot box.”
The backlash has also impacted press freedom. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was deported after covering the demonstrations, with Türkiye’s presidential communications directorate claiming he lacked press accreditation. As reported by The Guardian, a Swedish journalist who travelled to Türkiye to report on the protests was also arrested, along with two Turkish journalists.
İmamoğlu, in a message from prison published by The New York Times, accused Western leaders of failing to strongly condemn his arrest. “Washington merely expressed ‘concerns regarding recent arrests and protests’ in Türkiye. With few exceptions, European leaders have failed to offer a strong response,” he wrote.
Realising He Cannot Defeat Me, Türkiye’s President Resorted To Other Means: İmamoğlu
İmamoğlu, who won the Istanbul mayoral election in 2019 and secured re-election last year despite pressure from Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is widely seen as the only opposition figure capable of defeating Erdoğan in future elections. He was officially nominated as the CHP’s presidential candidate in a symbolic primary where 15 million people voted on the same day he was imprisoned.
In his letter from prison, İmamoğlu alleged that Erdoğan was resorting to undemocratic tactics to remove him: “Realising he cannot defeat me at the ballot box, Türkiye’s president has resorted to other means: having his main political opponent arrested on charges of corruption, bribery, leading a criminal network, and aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, even though the charges lack credible evidence.”
He further warned that his detention marked a “new phase in Türkiye’s slide into authoritarianism”, adding, “A country with a long democratic tradition now faces the serious risk of passing the point of no return.”
Meanwhile, Erdoğan has dismissed the protests as a “show” and warned of legal consequences for demonstrators. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 260 of the detained protesters had been jailed pending trial.
The crisis has also sent shockwaves through Türkiye’s financial markets, prompting the central bank to intervene to stabilise the lira. The Turkish government has downplayed concerns, with the central bank asserting that the economy’s core fundamentals remain intact.
As tensions continue to escalate, CHP leaders have vowed to sustain pressure with continued mass demonstrations, framing the battle for İmamoğlu’s release as a broader struggle for Türkiye’s democracy.
Massive demonstrations have erupted across Türkiye following the detention and imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has spearheaded the protests, calling for his immediate release and accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of using the judiciary to eliminate his main political rival.
According to news agency Reuters, tens of thousands gathered at a rally in Maltepe on Istanbul’s Asian side on Saturday, waving Turkish flags and chanting in support of İmamoğlu. A letter from the jailed mayor was read out to the cheering crowd: “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.”
Protests have spread nationwide, with nearly 1,900 people arrested over the past ten days, including 13 journalists and İmamoğlu’s lawyer. Turkish authorities conducted pre-dawn raids to detain demonstrators, while security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray on crowds, which Human Rights Watch described as an “unwarranted and unlawful use of police force.”
CHP leader Özgür Özel, addressing the rally, said, “Millions are demanding İmamoğlu’s release and fresh elections.” He denounced the charges against the mayor as politically motivated and urged a boycott of media outlets, brands, and stores seen as pro-Erdoğan.
Speaking to Le Monde, Özel announced that weekly protests would be held across Türkiye, adding, “We believe the arrests will slow down from now.” He warned that he was prepared to face imprisonment himself if necessary: “I am ready to take the risk of spending eight to ten years in prison because if we don’t stop this attempted coup, it will mean the end of the ballot box.”
The backlash has also impacted press freedom. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was deported after covering the demonstrations, with Türkiye’s presidential communications directorate claiming he lacked press accreditation. As reported by The Guardian, a Swedish journalist who travelled to Türkiye to report on the protests was also arrested, along with two Turkish journalists.
İmamoğlu, in a message from prison published by The New York Times, accused Western leaders of failing to strongly condemn his arrest. “Washington merely expressed ‘concerns regarding recent arrests and protests’ in Türkiye. With few exceptions, European leaders have failed to offer a strong response,” he wrote.
Realising He Cannot Defeat Me, Türkiye’s President Resorted To Other Means: İmamoğlu
İmamoğlu, who won the Istanbul mayoral election in 2019 and secured re-election last year despite pressure from Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is widely seen as the only opposition figure capable of defeating Erdoğan in future elections. He was officially nominated as the CHP’s presidential candidate in a symbolic primary where 15 million people voted on the same day he was imprisoned.
In his letter from prison, İmamoğlu alleged that Erdoğan was resorting to undemocratic tactics to remove him: “Realising he cannot defeat me at the ballot box, Türkiye’s president has resorted to other means: having his main political opponent arrested on charges of corruption, bribery, leading a criminal network, and aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, even though the charges lack credible evidence.”
He further warned that his detention marked a “new phase in Türkiye’s slide into authoritarianism”, adding, “A country with a long democratic tradition now faces the serious risk of passing the point of no return.”
Meanwhile, Erdoğan has dismissed the protests as a “show” and warned of legal consequences for demonstrators. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 260 of the detained protesters had been jailed pending trial.
The crisis has also sent shockwaves through Türkiye’s financial markets, prompting the central bank to intervene to stabilise the lira. The Turkish government has downplayed concerns, with the central bank asserting that the economy’s core fundamentals remain intact.
As tensions continue to escalate, CHP leaders have vowed to sustain pressure with continued mass demonstrations, framing the battle for İmamoğlu’s release as a broader struggle for Türkiye’s democracy.
Massive demonstrations have erupted across Türkiye following the detention and imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has spearheaded the protests, calling for his immediate release and accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of using the judiciary to eliminate his main political rival.
According to news agency Reuters, tens of thousands gathered at a rally in Maltepe on Istanbul’s Asian side on Saturday, waving Turkish flags and chanting in support of İmamoğlu. A letter from the jailed mayor was read out to the cheering crowd: “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.”
Protests have spread nationwide, with nearly 1,900 people arrested over the past ten days, including 13 journalists and İmamoğlu’s lawyer. Turkish authorities conducted pre-dawn raids to detain demonstrators, while security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray on crowds, which Human Rights Watch described as an “unwarranted and unlawful use of police force.”
CHP leader Özgür Özel, addressing the rally, said, “Millions are demanding İmamoğlu’s release and fresh elections.” He denounced the charges against the mayor as politically motivated and urged a boycott of media outlets, brands, and stores seen as pro-Erdoğan.
Speaking to Le Monde, Özel announced that weekly protests would be held across Türkiye, adding, “We believe the arrests will slow down from now.” He warned that he was prepared to face imprisonment himself if necessary: “I am ready to take the risk of spending eight to ten years in prison because if we don’t stop this attempted coup, it will mean the end of the ballot box.”
The backlash has also impacted press freedom. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was deported after covering the demonstrations, with Türkiye’s presidential communications directorate claiming he lacked press accreditation. As reported by The Guardian, a Swedish journalist who travelled to Türkiye to report on the protests was also arrested, along with two Turkish journalists.
İmamoğlu, in a message from prison published by The New York Times, accused Western leaders of failing to strongly condemn his arrest. “Washington merely expressed ‘concerns regarding recent arrests and protests’ in Türkiye. With few exceptions, European leaders have failed to offer a strong response,” he wrote.
Realising He Cannot Defeat Me, Türkiye’s President Resorted To Other Means: İmamoğlu
İmamoğlu, who won the Istanbul mayoral election in 2019 and secured re-election last year despite pressure from Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is widely seen as the only opposition figure capable of defeating Erdoğan in future elections. He was officially nominated as the CHP’s presidential candidate in a symbolic primary where 15 million people voted on the same day he was imprisoned.
In his letter from prison, İmamoğlu alleged that Erdoğan was resorting to undemocratic tactics to remove him: “Realising he cannot defeat me at the ballot box, Türkiye’s president has resorted to other means: having his main political opponent arrested on charges of corruption, bribery, leading a criminal network, and aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, even though the charges lack credible evidence.”
He further warned that his detention marked a “new phase in Türkiye’s slide into authoritarianism”, adding, “A country with a long democratic tradition now faces the serious risk of passing the point of no return.”
Meanwhile, Erdoğan has dismissed the protests as a “show” and warned of legal consequences for demonstrators. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 260 of the detained protesters had been jailed pending trial.
The crisis has also sent shockwaves through Türkiye’s financial markets, prompting the central bank to intervene to stabilise the lira. The Turkish government has downplayed concerns, with the central bank asserting that the economy’s core fundamentals remain intact.
As tensions continue to escalate, CHP leaders have vowed to sustain pressure with continued mass demonstrations, framing the battle for İmamoğlu’s release as a broader struggle for Türkiye’s democracy.
Massive demonstrations have erupted across Türkiye following the detention and imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has spearheaded the protests, calling for his immediate release and accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of using the judiciary to eliminate his main political rival.
According to news agency Reuters, tens of thousands gathered at a rally in Maltepe on Istanbul’s Asian side on Saturday, waving Turkish flags and chanting in support of İmamoğlu. A letter from the jailed mayor was read out to the cheering crowd: “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.”
Protests have spread nationwide, with nearly 1,900 people arrested over the past ten days, including 13 journalists and İmamoğlu’s lawyer. Turkish authorities conducted pre-dawn raids to detain demonstrators, while security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray on crowds, which Human Rights Watch described as an “unwarranted and unlawful use of police force.”
CHP leader Özgür Özel, addressing the rally, said, “Millions are demanding İmamoğlu’s release and fresh elections.” He denounced the charges against the mayor as politically motivated and urged a boycott of media outlets, brands, and stores seen as pro-Erdoğan.
Speaking to Le Monde, Özel announced that weekly protests would be held across Türkiye, adding, “We believe the arrests will slow down from now.” He warned that he was prepared to face imprisonment himself if necessary: “I am ready to take the risk of spending eight to ten years in prison because if we don’t stop this attempted coup, it will mean the end of the ballot box.”
The backlash has also impacted press freedom. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was deported after covering the demonstrations, with Türkiye’s presidential communications directorate claiming he lacked press accreditation. As reported by The Guardian, a Swedish journalist who travelled to Türkiye to report on the protests was also arrested, along with two Turkish journalists.
İmamoğlu, in a message from prison published by The New York Times, accused Western leaders of failing to strongly condemn his arrest. “Washington merely expressed ‘concerns regarding recent arrests and protests’ in Türkiye. With few exceptions, European leaders have failed to offer a strong response,” he wrote.
Realising He Cannot Defeat Me, Türkiye’s President Resorted To Other Means: İmamoğlu
İmamoğlu, who won the Istanbul mayoral election in 2019 and secured re-election last year despite pressure from Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is widely seen as the only opposition figure capable of defeating Erdoğan in future elections. He was officially nominated as the CHP’s presidential candidate in a symbolic primary where 15 million people voted on the same day he was imprisoned.
In his letter from prison, İmamoğlu alleged that Erdoğan was resorting to undemocratic tactics to remove him: “Realising he cannot defeat me at the ballot box, Türkiye’s president has resorted to other means: having his main political opponent arrested on charges of corruption, bribery, leading a criminal network, and aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, even though the charges lack credible evidence.”
He further warned that his detention marked a “new phase in Türkiye’s slide into authoritarianism”, adding, “A country with a long democratic tradition now faces the serious risk of passing the point of no return.”
Meanwhile, Erdoğan has dismissed the protests as a “show” and warned of legal consequences for demonstrators. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 260 of the detained protesters had been jailed pending trial.
The crisis has also sent shockwaves through Türkiye’s financial markets, prompting the central bank to intervene to stabilise the lira. The Turkish government has downplayed concerns, with the central bank asserting that the economy’s core fundamentals remain intact.
As tensions continue to escalate, CHP leaders have vowed to sustain pressure with continued mass demonstrations, framing the battle for İmamoğlu’s release as a broader struggle for Türkiye’s democracy.
Massive demonstrations have erupted across Türkiye following the detention and imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has spearheaded the protests, calling for his immediate release and accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of using the judiciary to eliminate his main political rival.
According to news agency Reuters, tens of thousands gathered at a rally in Maltepe on Istanbul’s Asian side on Saturday, waving Turkish flags and chanting in support of İmamoğlu. A letter from the jailed mayor was read out to the cheering crowd: “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.”
Protests have spread nationwide, with nearly 1,900 people arrested over the past ten days, including 13 journalists and İmamoğlu’s lawyer. Turkish authorities conducted pre-dawn raids to detain demonstrators, while security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray on crowds, which Human Rights Watch described as an “unwarranted and unlawful use of police force.”
CHP leader Özgür Özel, addressing the rally, said, “Millions are demanding İmamoğlu’s release and fresh elections.” He denounced the charges against the mayor as politically motivated and urged a boycott of media outlets, brands, and stores seen as pro-Erdoğan.
Speaking to Le Monde, Özel announced that weekly protests would be held across Türkiye, adding, “We believe the arrests will slow down from now.” He warned that he was prepared to face imprisonment himself if necessary: “I am ready to take the risk of spending eight to ten years in prison because if we don’t stop this attempted coup, it will mean the end of the ballot box.”
The backlash has also impacted press freedom. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was deported after covering the demonstrations, with Türkiye’s presidential communications directorate claiming he lacked press accreditation. As reported by The Guardian, a Swedish journalist who travelled to Türkiye to report on the protests was also arrested, along with two Turkish journalists.
İmamoğlu, in a message from prison published by The New York Times, accused Western leaders of failing to strongly condemn his arrest. “Washington merely expressed ‘concerns regarding recent arrests and protests’ in Türkiye. With few exceptions, European leaders have failed to offer a strong response,” he wrote.
Realising He Cannot Defeat Me, Türkiye’s President Resorted To Other Means: İmamoğlu
İmamoğlu, who won the Istanbul mayoral election in 2019 and secured re-election last year despite pressure from Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is widely seen as the only opposition figure capable of defeating Erdoğan in future elections. He was officially nominated as the CHP’s presidential candidate in a symbolic primary where 15 million people voted on the same day he was imprisoned.
In his letter from prison, İmamoğlu alleged that Erdoğan was resorting to undemocratic tactics to remove him: “Realising he cannot defeat me at the ballot box, Türkiye’s president has resorted to other means: having his main political opponent arrested on charges of corruption, bribery, leading a criminal network, and aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, even though the charges lack credible evidence.”
He further warned that his detention marked a “new phase in Türkiye’s slide into authoritarianism”, adding, “A country with a long democratic tradition now faces the serious risk of passing the point of no return.”
Meanwhile, Erdoğan has dismissed the protests as a “show” and warned of legal consequences for demonstrators. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 260 of the detained protesters had been jailed pending trial.
The crisis has also sent shockwaves through Türkiye’s financial markets, prompting the central bank to intervene to stabilise the lira. The Turkish government has downplayed concerns, with the central bank asserting that the economy’s core fundamentals remain intact.
As tensions continue to escalate, CHP leaders have vowed to sustain pressure with continued mass demonstrations, framing the battle for İmamoğlu’s release as a broader struggle for Türkiye’s democracy.
Massive demonstrations have erupted across Türkiye following the detention and imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has spearheaded the protests, calling for his immediate release and accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of using the judiciary to eliminate his main political rival.
According to news agency Reuters, tens of thousands gathered at a rally in Maltepe on Istanbul’s Asian side on Saturday, waving Turkish flags and chanting in support of İmamoğlu. A letter from the jailed mayor was read out to the cheering crowd: “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.”
Protests have spread nationwide, with nearly 1,900 people arrested over the past ten days, including 13 journalists and İmamoğlu’s lawyer. Turkish authorities conducted pre-dawn raids to detain demonstrators, while security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray on crowds, which Human Rights Watch described as an “unwarranted and unlawful use of police force.”
CHP leader Özgür Özel, addressing the rally, said, “Millions are demanding İmamoğlu’s release and fresh elections.” He denounced the charges against the mayor as politically motivated and urged a boycott of media outlets, brands, and stores seen as pro-Erdoğan.
Speaking to Le Monde, Özel announced that weekly protests would be held across Türkiye, adding, “We believe the arrests will slow down from now.” He warned that he was prepared to face imprisonment himself if necessary: “I am ready to take the risk of spending eight to ten years in prison because if we don’t stop this attempted coup, it will mean the end of the ballot box.”
The backlash has also impacted press freedom. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was deported after covering the demonstrations, with Türkiye’s presidential communications directorate claiming he lacked press accreditation. As reported by The Guardian, a Swedish journalist who travelled to Türkiye to report on the protests was also arrested, along with two Turkish journalists.
İmamoğlu, in a message from prison published by The New York Times, accused Western leaders of failing to strongly condemn his arrest. “Washington merely expressed ‘concerns regarding recent arrests and protests’ in Türkiye. With few exceptions, European leaders have failed to offer a strong response,” he wrote.
Realising He Cannot Defeat Me, Türkiye’s President Resorted To Other Means: İmamoğlu
İmamoğlu, who won the Istanbul mayoral election in 2019 and secured re-election last year despite pressure from Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is widely seen as the only opposition figure capable of defeating Erdoğan in future elections. He was officially nominated as the CHP’s presidential candidate in a symbolic primary where 15 million people voted on the same day he was imprisoned.
In his letter from prison, İmamoğlu alleged that Erdoğan was resorting to undemocratic tactics to remove him: “Realising he cannot defeat me at the ballot box, Türkiye’s president has resorted to other means: having his main political opponent arrested on charges of corruption, bribery, leading a criminal network, and aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, even though the charges lack credible evidence.”
He further warned that his detention marked a “new phase in Türkiye’s slide into authoritarianism”, adding, “A country with a long democratic tradition now faces the serious risk of passing the point of no return.”
Meanwhile, Erdoğan has dismissed the protests as a “show” and warned of legal consequences for demonstrators. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 260 of the detained protesters had been jailed pending trial.
The crisis has also sent shockwaves through Türkiye’s financial markets, prompting the central bank to intervene to stabilise the lira. The Turkish government has downplayed concerns, with the central bank asserting that the economy’s core fundamentals remain intact.
As tensions continue to escalate, CHP leaders have vowed to sustain pressure with continued mass demonstrations, framing the battle for İmamoğlu’s release as a broader struggle for Türkiye’s democracy.
Massive demonstrations have erupted across Türkiye following the detention and imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has spearheaded the protests, calling for his immediate release and accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of using the judiciary to eliminate his main political rival.
According to news agency Reuters, tens of thousands gathered at a rally in Maltepe on Istanbul’s Asian side on Saturday, waving Turkish flags and chanting in support of İmamoğlu. A letter from the jailed mayor was read out to the cheering crowd: “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.”
Protests have spread nationwide, with nearly 1,900 people arrested over the past ten days, including 13 journalists and İmamoğlu’s lawyer. Turkish authorities conducted pre-dawn raids to detain demonstrators, while security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray on crowds, which Human Rights Watch described as an “unwarranted and unlawful use of police force.”
CHP leader Özgür Özel, addressing the rally, said, “Millions are demanding İmamoğlu’s release and fresh elections.” He denounced the charges against the mayor as politically motivated and urged a boycott of media outlets, brands, and stores seen as pro-Erdoğan.
Speaking to Le Monde, Özel announced that weekly protests would be held across Türkiye, adding, “We believe the arrests will slow down from now.” He warned that he was prepared to face imprisonment himself if necessary: “I am ready to take the risk of spending eight to ten years in prison because if we don’t stop this attempted coup, it will mean the end of the ballot box.”
The backlash has also impacted press freedom. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was deported after covering the demonstrations, with Türkiye’s presidential communications directorate claiming he lacked press accreditation. As reported by The Guardian, a Swedish journalist who travelled to Türkiye to report on the protests was also arrested, along with two Turkish journalists.
İmamoğlu, in a message from prison published by The New York Times, accused Western leaders of failing to strongly condemn his arrest. “Washington merely expressed ‘concerns regarding recent arrests and protests’ in Türkiye. With few exceptions, European leaders have failed to offer a strong response,” he wrote.
Realising He Cannot Defeat Me, Türkiye’s President Resorted To Other Means: İmamoğlu
İmamoğlu, who won the Istanbul mayoral election in 2019 and secured re-election last year despite pressure from Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is widely seen as the only opposition figure capable of defeating Erdoğan in future elections. He was officially nominated as the CHP’s presidential candidate in a symbolic primary where 15 million people voted on the same day he was imprisoned.
In his letter from prison, İmamoğlu alleged that Erdoğan was resorting to undemocratic tactics to remove him: “Realising he cannot defeat me at the ballot box, Türkiye’s president has resorted to other means: having his main political opponent arrested on charges of corruption, bribery, leading a criminal network, and aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, even though the charges lack credible evidence.”
He further warned that his detention marked a “new phase in Türkiye’s slide into authoritarianism”, adding, “A country with a long democratic tradition now faces the serious risk of passing the point of no return.”
Meanwhile, Erdoğan has dismissed the protests as a “show” and warned of legal consequences for demonstrators. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 260 of the detained protesters had been jailed pending trial.
The crisis has also sent shockwaves through Türkiye’s financial markets, prompting the central bank to intervene to stabilise the lira. The Turkish government has downplayed concerns, with the central bank asserting that the economy’s core fundamentals remain intact.
As tensions continue to escalate, CHP leaders have vowed to sustain pressure with continued mass demonstrations, framing the battle for İmamoğlu’s release as a broader struggle for Türkiye’s democracy.
Massive demonstrations have erupted across Türkiye following the detention and imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has spearheaded the protests, calling for his immediate release and accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of using the judiciary to eliminate his main political rival.
According to news agency Reuters, tens of thousands gathered at a rally in Maltepe on Istanbul’s Asian side on Saturday, waving Turkish flags and chanting in support of İmamoğlu. A letter from the jailed mayor was read out to the cheering crowd: “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.”
Protests have spread nationwide, with nearly 1,900 people arrested over the past ten days, including 13 journalists and İmamoğlu’s lawyer. Turkish authorities conducted pre-dawn raids to detain demonstrators, while security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray on crowds, which Human Rights Watch described as an “unwarranted and unlawful use of police force.”
CHP leader Özgür Özel, addressing the rally, said, “Millions are demanding İmamoğlu’s release and fresh elections.” He denounced the charges against the mayor as politically motivated and urged a boycott of media outlets, brands, and stores seen as pro-Erdoğan.
Speaking to Le Monde, Özel announced that weekly protests would be held across Türkiye, adding, “We believe the arrests will slow down from now.” He warned that he was prepared to face imprisonment himself if necessary: “I am ready to take the risk of spending eight to ten years in prison because if we don’t stop this attempted coup, it will mean the end of the ballot box.”
The backlash has also impacted press freedom. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was deported after covering the demonstrations, with Türkiye’s presidential communications directorate claiming he lacked press accreditation. As reported by The Guardian, a Swedish journalist who travelled to Türkiye to report on the protests was also arrested, along with two Turkish journalists.
İmamoğlu, in a message from prison published by The New York Times, accused Western leaders of failing to strongly condemn his arrest. “Washington merely expressed ‘concerns regarding recent arrests and protests’ in Türkiye. With few exceptions, European leaders have failed to offer a strong response,” he wrote.
Realising He Cannot Defeat Me, Türkiye’s President Resorted To Other Means: İmamoğlu
İmamoğlu, who won the Istanbul mayoral election in 2019 and secured re-election last year despite pressure from Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is widely seen as the only opposition figure capable of defeating Erdoğan in future elections. He was officially nominated as the CHP’s presidential candidate in a symbolic primary where 15 million people voted on the same day he was imprisoned.
In his letter from prison, İmamoğlu alleged that Erdoğan was resorting to undemocratic tactics to remove him: “Realising he cannot defeat me at the ballot box, Türkiye’s president has resorted to other means: having his main political opponent arrested on charges of corruption, bribery, leading a criminal network, and aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, even though the charges lack credible evidence.”
He further warned that his detention marked a “new phase in Türkiye’s slide into authoritarianism”, adding, “A country with a long democratic tradition now faces the serious risk of passing the point of no return.”
Meanwhile, Erdoğan has dismissed the protests as a “show” and warned of legal consequences for demonstrators. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 260 of the detained protesters had been jailed pending trial.
The crisis has also sent shockwaves through Türkiye’s financial markets, prompting the central bank to intervene to stabilise the lira. The Turkish government has downplayed concerns, with the central bank asserting that the economy’s core fundamentals remain intact.
As tensions continue to escalate, CHP leaders have vowed to sustain pressure with continued mass demonstrations, framing the battle for İmamoğlu’s release as a broader struggle for Türkiye’s democracy.
Massive demonstrations have erupted across Türkiye following the detention and imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has spearheaded the protests, calling for his immediate release and accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of using the judiciary to eliminate his main political rival.
According to news agency Reuters, tens of thousands gathered at a rally in Maltepe on Istanbul’s Asian side on Saturday, waving Turkish flags and chanting in support of İmamoğlu. A letter from the jailed mayor was read out to the cheering crowd: “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.”
Protests have spread nationwide, with nearly 1,900 people arrested over the past ten days, including 13 journalists and İmamoğlu’s lawyer. Turkish authorities conducted pre-dawn raids to detain demonstrators, while security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray on crowds, which Human Rights Watch described as an “unwarranted and unlawful use of police force.”
CHP leader Özgür Özel, addressing the rally, said, “Millions are demanding İmamoğlu’s release and fresh elections.” He denounced the charges against the mayor as politically motivated and urged a boycott of media outlets, brands, and stores seen as pro-Erdoğan.
Speaking to Le Monde, Özel announced that weekly protests would be held across Türkiye, adding, “We believe the arrests will slow down from now.” He warned that he was prepared to face imprisonment himself if necessary: “I am ready to take the risk of spending eight to ten years in prison because if we don’t stop this attempted coup, it will mean the end of the ballot box.”
The backlash has also impacted press freedom. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was deported after covering the demonstrations, with Türkiye’s presidential communications directorate claiming he lacked press accreditation. As reported by The Guardian, a Swedish journalist who travelled to Türkiye to report on the protests was also arrested, along with two Turkish journalists.
İmamoğlu, in a message from prison published by The New York Times, accused Western leaders of failing to strongly condemn his arrest. “Washington merely expressed ‘concerns regarding recent arrests and protests’ in Türkiye. With few exceptions, European leaders have failed to offer a strong response,” he wrote.
Realising He Cannot Defeat Me, Türkiye’s President Resorted To Other Means: İmamoğlu
İmamoğlu, who won the Istanbul mayoral election in 2019 and secured re-election last year despite pressure from Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is widely seen as the only opposition figure capable of defeating Erdoğan in future elections. He was officially nominated as the CHP’s presidential candidate in a symbolic primary where 15 million people voted on the same day he was imprisoned.
In his letter from prison, İmamoğlu alleged that Erdoğan was resorting to undemocratic tactics to remove him: “Realising he cannot defeat me at the ballot box, Türkiye’s president has resorted to other means: having his main political opponent arrested on charges of corruption, bribery, leading a criminal network, and aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, even though the charges lack credible evidence.”
He further warned that his detention marked a “new phase in Türkiye’s slide into authoritarianism”, adding, “A country with a long democratic tradition now faces the serious risk of passing the point of no return.”
Meanwhile, Erdoğan has dismissed the protests as a “show” and warned of legal consequences for demonstrators. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 260 of the detained protesters had been jailed pending trial.
The crisis has also sent shockwaves through Türkiye’s financial markets, prompting the central bank to intervene to stabilise the lira. The Turkish government has downplayed concerns, with the central bank asserting that the economy’s core fundamentals remain intact.
As tensions continue to escalate, CHP leaders have vowed to sustain pressure with continued mass demonstrations, framing the battle for İmamoğlu’s release as a broader struggle for Türkiye’s democracy.
