Turkish protesters clashed with police in Istanbul today as they demonstrated against the detention of Istanbul mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. The opposition party had been preparing to nominate Imamoglu as its candidate for the next presidential election, but police raided his home and arrested him, along with his senior aides and several district mayors. The arrests were made on accusations of corruption and alleged ties to terrorism.
In response to the crackdown, the government imposed a ban on protests in Istanbul for four days and restricted access to social media sites. Despite these measures, protesters still took to the streets to voice their outrage over the arrests and show their support for Imamoglu.
Imamoglu, who is seen as a strong contender against President Erdogan in the upcoming election, issued a statement from detention urging the Turkish people to stand up against the “lies, plots, and traps” being used against him.
The clashes between protesters and police escalated throughout the day, with reports of tear gas and water cannons being used to disperse the crowds. The situation remains tense as the protesters continue to demand the release of Imamoglu and the other detainees.
The ongoing protests in Istanbul highlight the growing political tensions in Turkey and the increasing crackdown on dissent by the government. As the situation unfolds, it is clear that the people of Turkey are determined to fight for their democratic rights and hold their leaders accountable.
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Video “LIVE: Turkish protesters clash with police in Istanbul” was uploaded on 03/24/2025 to Youtube Channel The Times and The Sunday Times