'Major blow to democracy': Protests erupt in Istanbul after mayor’s arrest
Turkish protesters against the detention of the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, who is the main political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, say his detention is a “coup” and a major blow to Turkey’s democracy.
Turkish authorities detained Imamoglu, a member of the Republican People's Party (CHP), the main opposition to Erdogan‘s Justice and Development Party, on charges of corruption and aiding a terrorist group, calling him a "criminal organization leader suspect".
Pro-government media outlets have reported that Imamoglu has been accused of extortion and fraud, and aiding the terrorist organization Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Imamoglu said online that "the will of the people cannot be silenced”, and that he will "stand resolute" for the people of Turkey "and all who uphold democracy and justice worldwide."
The arrest prompted protests and outcry from across the country by opposition, and government critics who called his arrest "a coup against our next president."
The detention of Imamoglu, the two-term mayor of Istanbul, comes at the end of a months-long legal suppression of opposition figures across the country.
The critics argue that the crackdown on the opposition is a political move to decrease their prospects in the next presidential election.
Last year, Imamoglu won a second term as Istanbul's mayor, when his CHP party won the local elections there and in Ankara.
It was the first time since Erdogan came to power that his party was defeated across the country at an election.
Erdogan, who has been in power for 22 years, and his party have denied the allegation of coup and insisted Turkey's judiciary system is independent.
Turkey’s next presidential elections are scheduled for 2028. Erdogan cannot currently run for office again, as he is in his second term and previously served as the prime minister.
The only way Erdogan could participate in another election would be to change the constitution or call an early election before his term ends.
Istanbul's governor has called a four-day ban on all demonstrations, meetings, and press releases in order to preserve "public order" and stop "possible provocative actions."
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