Turkiye Detains 1,133 as Protests Erupt Over Istanbul Mayor’s Arrest

Turkiye authorities have detained 1,133 people across the country since the start of protests five days ago against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya today said that as many as 123 police officers were injured in the protests and alleged that dangerous materials such as acid, firebombs and knives were seized from protesters.

Yesterday, a court formally arrested Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and ordered him jailed pending a trial on corruption charges. His detention on Wednesday sparked the largest wave of street demonstrations in Türkiye in more than a decade, deepening concerns over democracy and the rule of



law.

As per the media reports, tens of thousands gathered in Istanbul, with unrest likely to continue over the detention and treatment of the presidential challenger to Erdoğan. A media workers’ union today said Turkish authorities detained several journalists from their homes. It said that it was a crackdown amid escalating protests. The mayor’s imprisonment is widely regarded as a political move to remove a major challenger to Erdogan from the next presidential race, currently scheduled for 2028. Government officials strongly reject the accusations and insist that Türkiye’s courts operate independently.