Major Protest Planned for Detained Istanbul Mayor

The largest opposition party in Turkey, the CHP, is organizing a significant demonstration in Istanbul aimed at securing the release of their detained presidential candidate, Ekrem Imamoglu. The mass protest, scheduled for Saturday afternoon, is expected to draw thousands of participants. Protesters are accusing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of using the judiciary to politically undermine Imamoglu, thereby eliminating his primary rival.

In a guest article for a major international publication, Imamoglu highlighted that Turkey has transformed into a "Republic of Fear" under Erdogan's rule. Despite the ongoing repression against government critics, citizens have shown persistent resistance on the streets. In a message shared on social media, he expressed gratitude towards the demonstrators and praised their bravery, stating that they are on the verge of making history.

The 53-year-old Imamoglu is currently being held at the well-known Marmara Prison in Silivri, located near Istanbul. His detention occurred on March 19, following allegations of corruption, and he was subsequently removed from his position as mayor of the metropolitan area. Concurrently, investigations regarding alleged support for terrorism have been initiated against him.

His arrest has sparked a wave of protests across the nation, with law enforcement responding with hundreds of arrests and often brutal measures against predominantly peaceful demonstrators. The police have reported over 100 injured officers, but specific figures regarding the injured protesters remain undisclosed.

The leadership of the CHP has declared their intention to continue the protests until either a snap presidential election is announced or Imamoglu is released. The previous Friday marked the tenth consecutive night of demonstrations in various cities, including Istanbul, where several arrests took place again. Even though many protests have been prohibited, the Istanbul governor's office has recently allowed the ban on protests to expire. However, arrests continue, with one of Imamoglu's lawyers detained temporarily on charges related to money laundering, before being released under a travel restriction.

Journalists are increasingly becoming targets in this environment. A BBC reporter was detained and subsequently deported from Turkey after spending several days covering the protests. Reports indicate that not all police officers are in agreement with the government's stance, as some officers expressed their discontent during the journalist's seven hours at the police headquarters, with one officer reportedly wishing him freedom.

Additionally, a staff member from the Swedish newspaper "Dagens ETC" was taken in for questioning upon arriving in Istanbul, with the details of their situation remaining unclear. The Turkish media landscape has also seen two local female journalists arrested in connection with the protests.