Protests in Turkey After Imamoglu's Arrest

Mass Protests Erupt in Turkey After Erdogan Rival Jailed

Tensions have escalated dramatically across Turkey as thousands poured into the streets in response to the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure and the mayor of Istanbul. The protests, marked by violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces, follow Imamoglu’s recent detention over corruption allegations—charges he vehemently denies, calling them politically motivated.

Imamoglu, widely regarded as a key contender in the 2028 presidential race under the Republican People’s Party (CHP), was expected to be officially nominated this Sunday. However, his arrest has sparked what observers are calling the largest public unrest in Turkey since the 2013 Gezi Park demonstrations.

Overnight protests erupted across major cities, especially Istanbul, where demonstrators waving Turkish flags gathered near municipal headquarters. They chanted defiant slogans in front of heavily armed riot police, who responded with tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets in attempts to disperse the crowds.

Authorities have confirmed that over 700 people have been detained since the protests began.

“My resolve is unshaken,” Imamoglu wrote on X (formerly Twitter) shortly before being taken into custody. His wife, Dilek Kaya Imamoglu, addressed protestors in Istanbul, condemning what she described as “outrageous oppression” and asserting that the injustice against her husband had gone too far.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has strongly condemned the demonstrations, accusing the CHP of inciting division and disturbing national peace. In a statement, he accused opposition leaders of exploiting the situation for political gain.

“I am here for justice, I am here for freedom. We are free people, and the Turkish nation will not accept this. It goes against our character and culture,” one protester told local media during the rallies.

The unrest also highlights underlying political tensions surrounding CHP’s informal alliance with the pro-Kurdish Equality and Democracy Party (DEM), which has faced criticism due to alleged links with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The PKK, which has waged a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state, is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU, the UK, and the US.

Earlier this month, the PKK declared a unilateral ceasefire after more than 40 years of conflict.

These latest protests underscore growing public dissatisfaction with what many see as authoritarian tendencies within Erdogan's administration and signal a potentially volatile political climate ahead of the 2028 elections.