Turkish Police Detain 1,113 Protesters in Five Days

Post by: Bandan Preet

Photo: AFP

Turkish police have arrested 1,113 people across the country over the past five days during anti-government protests, making it one of the largest waves of demonstrations in Turkiye in more than ten years. The protests began after Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested last Wednesday. He was charged with corruption, supporting the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and leading a criminal group.

On Monday, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the number of arrests following the fifth night of demonstrations. Speaking in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blamed the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Turkiye’s main opposition group, for the unrest. He accused the party of encouraging violence and claimed that their protest would eventually fail. Erdogan described the movement as a "shameful show" that would harm the country.

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Opposition Refuses to Back Down

Despite the mass arrests, protesters are determined to keep going. According to reports Aksel Zaimovic, people on the streets say they will not stop. In fact, they are calling on more people to join their next rally, scheduled to take place in a few hours.

Protesters are also urging citizens to boycott pro-government media outlets and companies with ties to the ruling party. They argue that many media channels are ignoring the protests, leaving people in the dark.

Why Was Imamoglu Arrested?

Imamoglu, seen as one of the few politicians capable of challenging Erdogan, was jailed in Silivri Prison on the outskirts of Istanbul. He was stripped of his mayoral title on Sunday and is now awaiting trial. The terrorism charge against him was dropped, but he still faces corruption accusations, which he denies.

On the same day, Imamoglu was chosen as the CHP’s candidate for the 2028 presidential election. Around 15 million people voted for him in a show of support, making it clear that he still has strong public backing.

Protests Spread Across Turkiye

The protests first began in Istanbul but quickly spread to over 55 of Turkiye’s 81 provinces. Clashes between riot police and protesters have become intense, with officers using tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds.

Even though authorities have banned street gatherings in many cities, demonstrators continue to flood the streets. On Sunday night, they faced off against police for the fifth night in a row, with some of the fiercest clashes yet.

In the early hours of Monday, police raided the homes of 10 Turkish journalists, arresting them. According to the Media and Law Studies Association, these journalists were detained for their coverage of the protests.

Later that day, young demonstrators gathered at the Besiktas port along the Bosphorus in Istanbul. The crowd was preparing for the main nightly rally, which was set to take place outside city hall at 5:30 PM GMT.

Injuries and Government Response

So far, 123 police officers have been injured during the protests. Minister Yerlikaya warned that the government would not allow "terror on the streets" and promised to take firm action against demonstrators.

Despite the arrests and crackdowns, the protests continue to grow, with no signs of slowing down.

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