Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Turkey for the seventh consecutive night, demanding justice for Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, whose arrest on corruption charges has sparked nationwide outrage.
More than 1,400 demonstrators—including students, journalists, and lawyers—have been detained since the unrest began last Wednesday.
Imamoglu, widely regarded as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s primary political rival, has denied the allegations against him, calling them politically motivated. His claims have been echoed by human rights groups and the United Nations, which have condemned the mass arrests and police use of force against demonstrators.
On Tuesday evening, thousands of university students gathered in Maçka Park before marching toward Şişli, chanting “government, resign!” as they waved flags and banners. The Istanbul authorities responded by banning protests and closing roads, citing the need to “maintain public order” and “prevent any provocative actions.” Riot police, heavily deployed across the city, closely monitored the demonstrators, many of whom covered their faces in fear of identification and arrest.
Meanwhile, President Erdogan addressed the situation during a Ramadan fast-breaking meal in Ankara, calling for patience and urging protesters to refrain from creating “chaos.” He warned that their demonstrations were “a dead end,” signaling his government’s determination to quell the unrest.
Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), has played a central role in the demonstrations, vowing to continue its resistance. Addressing crowds on Tuesday, CHP leader Özgür Özel announced plans for a large rally in Istanbul on Saturday, urging citizens to stand against Imamoglu’s arrest and the broader crackdown on opposition figures.
“Are you ready for a big rally in a large square in Istanbul on Saturday?” Özel asked the crowd. “To support Imamoglu, to object to his arrest, to object to the detention of each of our mayors. To demand transparent, open, live-broadcast trials, to say that we have had enough and we want early elections.”
According to Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, 1,418 protesters have been detained since the protests began, with 979 still in custody as of Tuesday. In a social media post, Yerlikaya stated that 478 additional protesters would be brought to court, vowing that “no concessions will be made to those who attempt to terrorize the streets” or “attack our national and moral values.”
With tensions rising, all eyes are now on Saturday’s planned mass rally, which could further escalate the confrontation between Turkey’s opposition and the Erdogan administration.
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