As popular protests continue across the country following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges, Turkish officials have detained roughly 1,500 citizens, including an AFP artist. The opposition has called for the action to be politically motivated, leading to the largest presentations Turkey has seen in over a century.
Seven reporters covering the protests were remanded in prison by an Istanbul judge after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government launched a severe assault. The punishments, along with the bloody hostilities between protesters and security troops, have drawn strong criticism from international organizations and human rights organizations.
Despite the onslaught, thousands of people still demonstrate in the streets, begging for Imamoglu’s release and for early elections. The largest open-air vote in history, according to opposition leader Ozgur Ozel, is scheduled for Saturday at a large rally in Istanbul.
What is all you need to understand about the demonstrations in Turkey?
Why are people protesting?
After Ekrem Imamoglu’s imprisonment on March 19th, the marches erupted. Imamoglu’s detention, which is regarded as Erdogan’s major political rival, has been widely viewed as an attempt to stifle opposition in advance of future elections. Kids, opposition supporters, and activists are now demonstrating against what they refer to as an assault on politics as the protests have spread throughout the country.
US expresses” problems” over Turkish demonstrations and arrests.
An National official claimed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had concerns about detention and widespread protests in the US and that he was speaking to Turkey’s foreign minister on Tuesday.
A State Department spokesperson said in a statement that the Secretary expressed concerns about new arrests and protests in Türkiye following Rubio’s and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s gathering in Washington, where they also discussed cooperation on safety and trade.
President’s response and media onslaught
According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, officials have taken a hard line attitude against the turmoil, detaining 1, 418 folks for “illegal presentations.” Riot authorities have sprayed plastic guns, pepper spray, and water guns to evacuate crowds, causing violent conflicts. Erdogan has referred to the demonstrations as” city terror” and has pledged to vigorously defend protesters.
At least seven writers have been imprisoned, including AFP artist Yasin Akgul, who also covered the rallies. Akgul’s arrest has been vehemently denounced by the Paris-based Agence France-Presse, who claims that he was merely keeping tabs on activities and not taking part in demonstrations. In a text to the Greek president, AFP chair Fabrice Fries wrote,” His incarceration is unacceptable.”
Future action by the opposition: A prepared mass rally
The Republican People’s Party ( CHP), led by Ozgur Ozel, has announced a significant protest in Istanbul’s Maltepe district on Saturday. Addressing protesters, Ozel remarked,” We have had enough and we want early primaries,” urging people to speak out against the president’s actions.
In an effort to stop Erdogan’s authorities from putting in a state-appointed substitute for Imamoglu, the criticism has also appointed an acting president for Istanbul.
International retorts and mobilizations
The world worry is fueled by the escalating problems. Turkey’s “unlawful blanket ban on demonstrations” has been criticized by the UN and the UN has urged authorities to look into reports of overwhelming force. Human Rights Watch described the situation as a “dark occasion for republic” in Turkey, while the Council of Europe criticized the “disproportionate” usage of police force.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Washington to discuss the widespread prosecutions and demonstrations. Despite being under international force, Erdogan’s leadership has not shown any signs of slowing down.
