Turkey detains 1,100 as protests erupt over Ekrem İmamoğlu arrest

ISTANBUL: Turkish police have detained at least 1,100 people, including several journalists, after nationwide protests erupted following the arrest of opposition leader and former Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption and terrorism charges.

The demonstrations, which began in Istanbul, have now spread to more than 55 provinces, resulting in violent clashes between protesters and security forces. University students in Istanbul and Ankara walked out chanting anti-government slogans.

At 53, Ekrem İmamoğlu was seen as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s strongest challenger in the 2028 elections. His arrest is widely seen as a political vendetta aimed at consolidating Erdogan’s power.

The move has been strongly condemned by the international community, with Germany, Greece, France and the European Union urging Turkey to uphold democratic principles. The French Foreign Ministry called the arrest a “serious attack on democracy,” while the European Union called on Turkey to demonstrate its commitment to democratic values.

On Monday, student-led protests intensified, with large gatherings expected at Beşiktaş Port at 1400 GMT and outside Istanbul City Hall at 1730 GMT.

The ongoing crisis poses a significant challenge for Erdogan’s administration, as the growing protests threaten to plunge Turkey into a deeper political crisis.