Public outrage in Turkiye continues to escalate as protests enter their second consecutive night following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Demonstrators gathered outside Istanbul’s City Hall on Thursday, clashing with police as they attempted to reach Taksim Square, a historically significant protest site. The protests have spread beyond Istanbul, with police using water cannons to disperse crowds in Ankara’s Middle East Technical University, while smaller demonstrations were reported in Izmir and Adana.
Imamoglu, a key opposition leader and member of the secular Republican People’s Party (CHP), was arrested in a pre-dawn raid on Wednesday. His detention comes just days before he was expected to announce his candidacy for the 2028 presidential election. Alongside him, dozens of journalists, business figures, and municipal staff members were also detained. The charges against Imamoglu include bribery, extortion, corruption, aggravated fraud, and unauthorized access to personal data for profit, as well as allegations of collaborating with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) during municipal elections. The PKK, which has waged a long-running insurgency for Kurdish independence, is classified as a terrorist organization in Turkiye.
Adding to Imamoglu’s legal troubles, a Turkish university earlier this week nullified his diploma due to alleged irregularities, a move that could potentially disqualify him from politics. His arrest follows a series of legal battles dating back to 2022, raising concerns that the government is using the judiciary to sideline political opponents.
Despite a four-day protest ban imposed by the government, demonstrations are expected to continue through the weekend. Addressing a rally outside Istanbul’s City Hall on Thursday evening, CHP leader Ozgur Ozel called for continued public demonstrations. “Yes, I am calling the people to the streets,” Ozel declared, urging protesters to remain peaceful.
Social media has also become a battleground for public dissent, with Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reporting that 18.6 million posts were shared within 24 hours of Imamoglu’s detention. Authorities have detained 37 individuals accused of using social media to incite public disorder.
The financial markets have reacted sharply to the political unrest. Trading was briefly halted on Wednesday to prevent panic selling, and the Turkish lira fell to a record low. Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has defended Imamoglu’s detention, with party spokesperson Omer Celik urging the opposition to respect the legal process. “What a politician should do is follow the judicial process,” Celik stated, emphasizing that the government has no direct influence over the investigation.
