Turkey Detains 1,100 People After Arrest of Erdogan’s Rival

Photo : AFP

ISTANBUL: Turkish police have arrested more than 1,100 people, including reporters, after the detention of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s biggest rival caused the biggest protests in years, a government official said on Monday.

The protests started in Istanbul after Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested last week. Since then, the unrest has spread to more than 55 of Turkey’s 81 provinces, leading to clashes between protesters and riot police. Many countries have criticized Turkey’s actions.

The 53-year-old Imamoglu is seen as the only leader strong enough to challenge Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey since 2003—first as prime minister and then as president.

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In just four days, Imamoglu went from being the mayor of Istanbul—a position that helped Erdogan rise to power years ago—to being arrested, questioned, jailed, and removed from office due to corruption and terror-related charges.

Despite his arrest, on Sunday, he was chosen as the main opposition CHP’s candidate for the 2028 presidential election. More than 15 million people voted in his favor, showing strong public support.

Many observers believe Imamoglu’s growing power was the reason behind his arrest. The opposition leader is seen as Erdogan’s biggest political threat.

International Reaction
Imamoglu’s arrest has drawn heavy criticism from other countries.

Germany called the arrest “completely unacceptable.”

Greece said such actions against democracy “cannot be accepted.”

The European Union (EU) told Turkey it must show a “clear respect for democracy.”

France called it a “serious attack on democracy.”

Protests Continue
On Monday, university students in Istanbul and Ankara refused to attend classes in protest.

Young demonstrators planned to gather at Besiktas port on the Bosphorus at 14:00 GMT, followed by another large protest at City Hall at 17:30 GMT.

On Sunday night, police used force against protesters, kicking and beating them in Istanbul, according to witnesses.

Before sunrise on Monday, police arrested 10 journalists from their homes, including a photographer working for AFP. The MLSA rights group said these journalists were arrested simply for reporting on the protests.

Imamoglu’s wife, Dilek Kaya Imamoglu, condemned the attacks on the press, saying:

“What is being done to journalists is an attack on freedom. We cannot stay silent.”

Since Wednesday, police have arrested more than 1,133 people for “illegal activities,” Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.

Among those arrested were two lawyers who were helping detained protesters. The Izmir Bar Association confirmed their arrest.

Imamoglu Sends Message From Jail
Despite being behind bars, Imamoglu sent a strong message through his lawyers, saying:

“I wear a white shirt that you cannot stain. I have a strong arm that you cannot twist. I will not take a step back. I will win this fight.”

Millions of people took part in CHP’s public vote on Sunday, which was open to people beyond its 1.7 million official members.

City Hall reported that out of 15 million votes, over 13 million came from people not officially part of the party, showing widespread public support.

Government Tightens Control on Social Media
As protests spread, Turkey’s government tried to control the news. Authorities attempted to block more than 700 accounts on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the company confirmed on Sunday.

The political situation in Turkey remains tense, with protests expected to continue in the coming days.