Anti-government protests in Turkey have escalated following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key leader of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). Demonstrations, which began a few days ago, have now grown stronger.
Thousands of protesters have gathered in various cities, chanting slogans against the government. Some have set fires and vandalized properties. Clashes between police and protesters have resulted in dozens of injuries, and over 100 demonstrators have been arrested.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has condemned the growing protests, stating that he will not tolerate violence and public disorder. He made it clear that there would be no compromise against vandalism and chaos on the streets.
The protests erupted after Imamoglu was arrested last Wednesday on charges of corruption and alleged ties to extremist groups. His arrest came just days before the official announcement of candidates for the 2028 presidential election.
Imamoglu, a potential presidential candidate from CHP, is considered one of Erdoğan’s strongest political rivals. CHP is a secular political party, and many protesters believe that Erdoğan targeted Imamoglu with baseless charges to weaken the opposition.
