Over 1,100 Arrested in Turkey as Protests Intensify Over Erdoğan Rival’s Arrest
Turkish authorities have detained more than 1,100 people as protests continue across the country in response to the arrest of opposition figure and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, police reported on Monday. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said that more than 120 police officers have been injured in clashes and accused those arrested of having ties to “12 different terrorist organizations.”
Following İmamoğlu’s jailing on March 19 on corruption charges, mass demonstrations have spread to numerous cities, including Istanbul and Ankara. İmamoğlu, seen as a significant rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was arrested just days before he was set to announce his candidacy for the 2028 presidential election. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), which İmamoğlu represents, has condemned the arrest, describing it as part of a larger campaign to suppress political opposition ahead of the 2028 election.
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CHP said on Monday that İmamoğlu had been officially nominated as the party’s presidential candidate.
Protests continued into the weekend with demonstrators facing violent crackdowns. In Istanbul, riot police used pepper spray, and in Ankara, protesters were hit with water cannons.
On Monday, İmamoğlu called for a sixth night of protests. Writing on X, he told protesters he would be with them in spirit and urged them to avoid confrontations with the police.
The situation marks a critical point in Turkey’s political landscape, with concerns that Erdoğan’s increasing control could push Turkey toward full autocracy.
