Thousands of people gathered outside Istanbul City Hall on Saturday night. It was the fourth consecutive night of protests. Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu described his imprisonment as “immoral and baseless.”
Protests Spread Rapidly Across Turkey
Initially, the demonstrations started in Istanbul on Wednesday. However, they quickly spread to more than 55 of Turkey’s 81 provinces. As a result, violent clashes erupted with riot police. This became the most intense street unrest in over a decade.
Authorities arrested Imamoglu just days before his expected nomination as the main opposition CHP candidate for the 2028 presidential election. They accused him of “terrorism” and “corruption.” Consequently, public anger grew.
Tensions Escalate in Istanbul
By Saturday night, the protests became even larger. Demonstrators held signs reading, “Dictators are cowards!” and “AKP, you will not silence us!” Clearly, frustration was mounting.
Shortly after midnight (2100 GMT), police responded with force. They fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. Many protesters ran into City Hall for safety. Meanwhile, police arrested several people. However, officials did not release exact numbers.
Earlier, riot police had already used rubber bullets, pepper spray, and percussion grenades to control the crowds. As a result, tensions escalated further.
Crackdowns Continue in Other Cities
At the same time, authorities took harsh measures in other parts of the country. In Ankara, police used water cannons to push back protesters. Similarly, in Izmir, officers blocked students marching toward AKP offices.
Meanwhile, CHP leader Ozgur Ozel addressed the massive crowd in Istanbul. He claimed more than half a million people had gathered. Furthermore, he vowed to “defend” Imamoglu and lead a march to the courthouse.
Mayor Taken to Court Under Tight Security
Later that night, authorities transported Imamoglu and 90 co-defendants to a courthouse. The location was about 10 kilometers (six miles) from City Hall. Dozens of riot vans and heavy police forces surrounded them for protection.
According to his lawyers, the court had already finished the hearing on “terrorism” charges. However, the trial for “corruption” was scheduled to continue later in the night.
Despite the strong police presence, nearly 1,000 protesters gathered outside the courthouse. They chanted slogans while officers maintained tight security.
Economic Consequences and Public Outrage
Earlier that day, Imamoglu released a statement condemning the accusations. He argued that they damaged Turkey’s reputation. Additionally, he warned that they weakened public trust in justice and the economy.
As expected, the financial markets reacted negatively. The Turkish lira dropped sharply. Moreover, the BIST 100 index closed nearly 8% lower on Friday.
Many protesters compared their demonstrations to the 2016 coup attempt when people defended President Erdogan. “Just as people defended Erdogan on July 15, we are now standing up for Imamoglu,” said 30-year-old Aykut Cenk. “We are not against the state, but this is unfair.”
Government Crackdown Intensifies
Despite a ban on protests in Turkey’s three largest cities, the unrest continued to spread. In response, President Erdogan issued a strong warning. He declared that the government would not tolerate “street terror.”
“For four days, they have been doing everything they can to disturb the peace and divide our people,” Erdogan said. “The days when politics and justice were controlled by street protests are over.”
Meanwhile, Istanbul Governor Davut Gul announced new restrictions. He stated that authorities would block anyone from entering or leaving the city if they were suspected of participating in illegal activities.
Since the protests began, police have arrested 343 people, according to the interior ministry.
Journalists Targeted by Police
Meanwhile, Turkey’s Journalists Union accused police of deliberately targeting reporters. According to their statement, officers beat journalists, fired rubber bullets at them, and damaged their equipment.
Shortly after, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the attacks. It described them as “heavy-handed and completely arbitrary.” RSF also demanded strict punishment for those responsible.
CHP Pushes Forward with Imamoglu’s Nomination
Despite Imamoglu’s detention, CHP refused to back down. It planned to hold its leadership vote on Sunday. Additionally, it confirmed that Imamoglu would be officially nominated as the party’s presidential candidate.
To demonstrate widespread support, the party decided to open voting to the public, not just members. However, observers warned that the government might try to block the vote.