Turkish protesters clashed with police in Istanbul following the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, and over 100 others in a raid on their homes. The opposition party had been expected to nominate Imamoglu as its candidate for the upcoming presidential election, but the arrests have thrown a wrench into those plans.
Accusations of corruption and “terrorism” links were leveled against Imamoglu and his associates, leading to widespread protests and a heavy police presence in the city. The government responded by banning protests for four days and restricting access to social media sites.
Imamoglu, who is considered a major rival to President Erdogan, issued a defiant message on social media, vowing to fight back against the allegations and claiming that the Turkish people would support him in the face of what he called “lies, plots and traps.”
The clashes between protesters and police have led to a tense atmosphere in Istanbul, with tensions running high as supporters of Imamoglu demand his release and protest against what they see as a politically motivated crackdown on dissent.
The situation in Istanbul remains volatile as the government continues to crack down on opposition figures and dissent in the lead-up to the presidential election. The arrest of Imamoglu has sparked outrage among his supporters and raised concerns about the state of democracy in Turkey.
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Video “LIVE: Turkish protesters clash with police in Istanbul” was uploaded on 03/25/2025 to Youtube Channel The Times and The Sunday Times