In response to the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, authorities in Turkey closed off roads and imposed a four-day demonstration ban to prevent protests. Despite these measures, thousands of protesters gathered outside various government buildings, expressing their outrage at the arrest, which they deemed unlawful and baseless. Imamoğlu, a popular opposition leader and rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was arrested on charges of corruption, extortion, fraud, and aiding a terrorist organization.
Critics have accused the government of targeting Imamoğlu to silence dissent and maintain power, with opposition figures calling the arrest a “coup attempt”. The Justice Minister of Turkey, Yilmaz Tunc, defended the arrest, stating that the judiciary operates independently and does not take instructions from anyone.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed deep concern over Imamoğlu’s arrest and reminded Turkey of its obligation to uphold democratic values as an EU candidate country. She emphasized the importance of Turkey respecting democratic norms and practices to maintain its relationship with Europe.
The arrest of Imamoğlu and the subsequent protests highlight the ongoing political tensions in Turkey and the government’s efforts to crackdown on opposition figures. As the situation unfolds, critics continue to express concerns about the erosion of democratic principles in the country.
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