More than 1,100 people arrested in Türkiye in protests following Imamoglu’s arrest.
According to the Associated Press, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the arrest of 1,133 people during the protests following the suspension and detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
92 people, including İmamoğlu, were arrested on March 19 in an investigation into allegations of corruption and links to criminal organizations launched by the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office.
45 people, including the mayor of Istanbul and Murat Çalık, the mayor of Beylikduzu, were arrested yesterday, and 44 of them were released under curfew and judicial supervision.
Şişli Mayor Rasul Ümraşahan was also arrested, and the Turkish government has appointed a caretaker mayor for the city.
Widespread protests began in Istanbul after İmamoğlu’s arrest and drew dozens of people to the streets in various cities in Turkey. The demonstrations by students and youth, most of whom had come to the streets to demand their rights and justice, were violently suppressed by security forces and police within five days.
According to Yerlikaya, hundreds of people were arrested during or after the demonstrations as the police intervened violently to suppress the protesters. The Turkish Interior Minister said that 1,133 people were arrested between March 19 and 23.
The primary elections of the Republican People’s Party, the main rival of the ruling Justice and Development Party in Turkey, were held yesterday (March 23) with the aim of introducing the party’s candidate for the upcoming presidential election. The Republican People’s Party of Turkey today introduced Imamoglu as the party’s main candidate in the upcoming presidential election.