Nationwide Protests Erupt in Turkey After İmamoğlu’s Arrest, Over 1,100 Detained

Istanbul – Turkish police have detained at least 1,100 people, including several journalists, following widespread protests triggered by the arrest of opposition leader Ekrem İmamoğlu. The former Istanbul mayor is facing charges of corruption and terrorism, and his detention has sparked nationwide unrest.

The protests, which began in Istanbul, have spread to over 55 provinces, with violent clashes erupting between demonstrators and security forces. Students in both Istanbul and Ankara staged walkouts, voicing their opposition to the government and chanting anti-President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan slogans.

İmamoğlu, 53, was seen as President Erdoğan’s strongest challenger for the 2028 elections. His arrest is widely viewed as a political maneuver to weaken opposition and solidify Erdoğan’s hold on power.

The international community has condemned the move, with Germany, Greece, France, and the European Union urging Turkey to respect democratic values. France’s foreign ministry described the arrest as a “serious attack on democracy,” while the EU called for Turkey to demonstrate its commitment to democratic principles.

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Student-led protests intensified on Monday, with large rallies planned at Beşiktaş Port at 1400 GMT and outside Istanbul City Hall at 1730 GMT.

The ongoing crisis presents a significant challenge to Erdoğan’s administration, as escalating protests threaten to deepen Turkey’s political turmoil.