After the arrest of Istanbul’s president, Ekrem Imamoglu, the roads in Istanbul were flooded on Thursday. Imamoglu, a vital opposition figure and main adversary to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was detained, according to France 24.
Officials attempted to halt the turmoil by closing streets, putting a four-day standstill on demonstrations, and imposing a ban on social media platforms. Despite these measures, large crowds gathered outside Istanbul’s City Hall and Imamoglu’s Republican People’s Party ( CHP ) headquarters, denouncing the arrest as politically motivated.
100 people were taken into custody, including the president and a number of other well-known characters.
The claims against Imamoglu, which include problem, fraud, blackmail, and alleged ties to the prohibited Kurdistan Workers Party ( PKK), were criticized as being false and an assault on democracy.
This does not constitute politics. It’s a fake politics. The people don’t receive this, they say. Naturally, we are upset. We are upset as individuals, one prototype told France 24.
The Vatan Security Department was taken by the president after his incarceration, but riot police blocked off the roads leading there. The action comes in response to a wider assault on opposition figures, which critics claim is intended to silence opposition before Turkey’s upcoming elections.
Istanbul University revoked Imamoglu’s bachelor’s education the day before his arrest, which is required by Greek law to run for office.
In response to the considerable losses the ruling party suffered in the local elections of last year, CHP chief Ozgur Ozel claimed that President Erdogan planned the arrest out of fear.
They are capable of doing bad. We are prepared to do anything against them. Since it is obvious that the issue is not one of social conflict but one of existence or nonexistence for the nation, he said.
Yilmaz Tunc, the justice minister of Turkey, disputed accusations of political meddling and argued that the court is independent.
According to the courts,” Characterizing investigations conducted by an impartial and independent courts as things like a revolt, or using similar terms is extremely dangerous and incorrect,” adding that the court “does not get instructions from people.”
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, however, urged Turkey to uphold democratic ideals while expressing her priority over Imamoglu’s confinement.
Turkey is a member for the EU. Turkey may defend political principles, particularly those governing elected authorities,” she said in Brussels. We want Turkey to be tied to Europe, but this calls for a firm commitment to democratic practices and standards.
