Turkey relaxes journalists as demonstrations grow against imprisonment of Erdogan's rival

The Turkish authorities have arrested several journalists from their home, said a media workers' union, calling it repression in the midst of increasing demonstrations launched by the imprisonment of the mayor of Istanbul, a high -level rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

On Sunday, a court officially arrested the mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and ordered him to imprison while waiting for a trial for corruption.

His detention sparked the largest wave of street demonstrations in Türkiye on Wednesday in more than a decade, deepening concerns about democracy and the rule of law.

The Bassin-Esture Disc a union said that at least eight journalists and photojournalists had been detained in what he called an “attack on press freedoms and the right of the people to learn the truth”.

He called for their immediate release.

The social media platform X, formerly Twitter, said that it was opposed to several judicial orders from the Turkish authorities to block more than 700 accounts, including press organizations, journalists and political figures in Turkey.

– hundreds of demonstrators have held

In total, 1,133 people have been detained since the mayor was arrested at his home, said Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

Up to 123 police officers were injured during demonstrations, he said, adding that materials such as acid, fire bombs and knives were seized.

“Certain circles have exploited the right to meet and demonstrate, trying to disrupt public order, encourage street disorders and attack our police,” Yerlikaya said on social networks.

The Minister said that some of the detainees had been identified as having links with groups listed such as terrorist organizations and others had a criminal record.

Hundreds of thousands of people came out for largely peaceful demonstrations across Turkey supported by the mayor.

There were violence, the police deploying water cannons, tear gas and pepper gas and pulling plastic dumplings on demonstrators in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir.

Some demonstrators have launched stones, fireworks and other objects to the riot police.

– The mayor asks for more gatherings

In a message on social networks, Imamoglu urged people to join the town hall and other places for a sixth night on Monday.

He also called on young people to avoid clashes and asked the police to treat the demonstrators with kindness.

“I work hard, I will work even harder. Where I am does not matter,” he said.

The mayor's imprisonment is widely considered a political decision to withdraw a large challenger from Erdogan from the next presidential race, scheduled for 2028.

Government representatives reject the accusations and insist that Turkey's courts operate independently.

Imamoglu was imprisoned for suspicion of having led a criminal organization, accepting bribes, extortion, illegally recording personal data and the rockering of the auctions-of the charges he denied.

A request for him to be imprisoned for accusations related to terrorism has been rejected although he is still faced with prosecution.

The Interior Ministry later said that Imamoglu had been suspended from its functions as a “temporary measure”.

The municipality previously appointed an acting mayor of its board of directors.

Imamoglu was taken to Silivri prison, west of Istanbul, while more than 1.7 million members of his opposition republican people, or CHP, organized a primary election, having him approved as presidential candidate.

Millions of non-members also voted in a “solidarity bulletin”, said the party.

Alongside Imamoglu, 47 other people were also imprisoned while waiting for the trial, including a key assistant and two district mayors in Istanbul.

One was replaced by one appointed by the government. 44 other suspects were released under judicial supervision.

– The municipality of Ankara also examined

Meanwhile, the authorities were investigating the office of the mayor of Ankara, another popular opposition figure, on the alleged abuse of public funds concerning the organization of 33 concerts, the municipality announced on Monday.

He said the decision had been made even if the concerts had been completely audited.

Imamoglu was elected mayor of the largest city in Turkey in March 2019, in a hard blow for Mr. Erdogan and the party of the President of Justice and Development, which had checked Istanbul for a quarter of a century.

The party of Mr. Erdogan prompted to cancel the results of the municipal elections in the city of 16 million, alleging irregularities.

The challenge led to a rehearsal of the elections a few months later, which Imamoglu also won.

The mayor retained his headquarters after the local elections last year, during which the CHP produced important gains against the power party of Erdogan.