Turkey arrests 343 as mass protests follow detention of Erdogan’s main rival
Turkish authorities have arrested 343 protesters during overnight protests in more than a dozen cities against the detention of Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the Interior Ministry said.
The protests across major cities began on Thursday and continued on Saturday. Tens of thousands of demonstrators defied a ban on protests to take to the streets against Imamoglu’s detention.
Demonstrations have taken place across Turkey, especially its largest cities, including Istanbul, the capital, Ankara, Adana, Antalya, Izmir, Konya and several others.
"There will be no tolerance for those who seek to violate societal order, threaten the people's peace and security, and pursue chaos and provocation," Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya posted on social media.
Turkish authorities detained Imamoglu, a member of the Republican People's Party (CHP), the main opposition to Erdoğan‘s Justice and Development Party, on charges of corruption and aiding a terrorist group, calling him a "criminal organization leader suspect."
Pro-government media outlets have reported that Imamoglu has been accused of extortion and fraud, and aiding the terrorist organization of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
On the day of his detention, Imamoglu said online that "the will of the people cannot be silenced,” that he will "stand resolute" for the people of Turkey "and all who uphold democracy and justice worldwide."
The arrest prompted protests and outcry from across the country by opposition, and government critics who called his arrest "a coup against our next president."
The detention of Imamoglu, the two-term mayor of Istanbul, comes at the end of a months-long legal suppression of opposition figures across the country.
The critics argue that the crackdown on the opposition is a political move to decrease their prospects in the next presidential election.
Last year, Imamoglu won a second term as Istanbul's mayor, when his CHP party won the 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 an election.
Erdogan, who has been in power for 22 years, and his party have denied the allegation of a coup and insisted Turkey's judiciary system is independent.
Turkey’s next presidential elections are scheduled for 2028. Erdogan cannot currently run for office again, as he is in his second term and previously served as the prime minister.
The only way Erdogan could participate in another election would be to change the constitution or call an early election before his term ends.
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