Türkiye: Leader of the main opposition party visit to the mayor of Istanbul in prison
The ̇mamoğlu arrest was widely considered as having political motivations and gave rise to demonstrations in cities throughout the country, some of which became violent.
The leader of the main Turkish opposition party visited the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem ̇mamoğlu, after Six nights of mass protests for its launch.
Imamoğlu, who was arrested on March 19 for corruption positions, is seen as the main opponent for 22 years President Rece Tayyip Erdogan.
It was widely considered that his detention had political motivations and gave rise to demonstrations in cities throughout the country, some of which became violent.
The government insists that the Turkish Judiciary is independent and free of political influences.
Özgür Özel, the leader of the Republican Party Povo (CHP), had a two -hour meeting with ̇mamoğlu in the arrest of Silivri, west of Istanbul.
Özel told journalists that they were “ashamed for those who govern Turkey, the atmosphere in which I find myself and the situation in which Turkey is placed.”
He described ̇mamoğlu and the two presidents of the Chamber of the District of the CHP, with whom he also knew, as “three lions inside, standing, with his own head … proud of himself, their families, their colleagues, without fear.”
Özel had announced the night before, which on Tuesday night would be the Last chp meeting at the entrance of the Istanbul City Council, having appealed to everyone’s participation.
He also reported that the party would appoint a member of the Municipal Council to act as mayor instead of ̇mamoğlu, dismissing the possibility of a substitute designated by the State.
Media repression and activists
Students from all over Türkiye protested and occupied university campuses on Tuesday after declaring a Bicot of classes.
In Istanbul, thousands of people gathered in a park before leaving to the şişli district, where the mayor of the house was arrested and replaced by a appointed by the government.
However, the Turkish authorities have been repressing journalists As the protests intensify.
The Association of Media and Law Studies, a civil society group, said 11 journalists arrested for covering prohibited protests in Istanbul The çağlayan court, in the city, was present to respond to the accusations of violation of the law on meetings and demonstrations.
The journalists were among the more than 200 people that the prosecutor recommended to be arrested while waiting for the trial, including the leftist activists who were intercepted in their homes in Rusters on Monday.
At the end of Tuesday, 172 people, including seven journalists, had been arrested By trial.
ADVERTISINGThe head of the Istambul section of the CHP, Özgür Celik, shared a letter he received from the prosecutor to order the elimination of ̇mamoğlu posters. He said, however, that he will not comply with the order.
“You will see more (images) of Mayor Ekrem on the balconies of the houses, the squares, the streets and the walls,” Celik published in X.
The demonstrations in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, as well as in smaller cities and towns in all of Türkiye, were largely peaceful, with the Protesters demand the launch of ̇mamoğlu and the end of democratic reverse.
Some have become violent, with agents that use water cannons, tear gas and pepper gas and soaked with plastic bullets against protesters, some of whom threw stones, fireworks and other objects against the police.
ADVERTISINGOn Tuesday, the The governors of Ankara and Smyrna extended the prohibition of demonstrations Until April 1 and March 29, respectively. In Istanbul, the ban ends on Thursday.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, mentioned Tuesday that the police had arrested 43 “provocative” due to what they described as “vis insults” launched against Erdogan and his family in protests.
Later, he published that 1,418 people had been arrested since Wednesday Last week, and 979 suspects were currently in custody.
“There will be no concessions to those who try to terrorize the streets,” he wrote in X.
ADVERTISINGÖzel and ̇mamoğlu’s stories in social networks published messages of conviction of insults thrown against Erdogan’s mother.
During a Ramadão opening meal in Ankara, Erdogan asked people to “know their limits, keep moderation and do not exceed the Line that separates the search for rights and insult and vandalism. “
He added: “Those who spread terror in the streets and want to turn this country into a fire approach to having a future. The way they follow is a dead end.”
