In the early hours of Thursday, police deployed pepper spray, plastic pellets, and water cannons against protesters in Turkey’s capital.
The incident is part of the most significant wave of anti-government demonstrations the country has witnessed in over a decade.
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The protests erupted last week after the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Imamoglu was jailed pending trial on corruption charges that many believe are politically motivated. He is also accused of supporting terrorism. While the government maintains that the judiciary operates independently, critics argue that the case is based on secret witnesses and lacks credible evidence.
On Thursday morning, student demonstrators attempted to march and gathered near the gates of Middle East Technical University to read a statement, according to reports from the pro-opposition broadcaster Halk TV and local media. Security forces confronted them, using pepper spray, water cannons, and plastic pellets. A standoff ensued as students sought refuge behind a barricade of dumpsters before police moved in to detain them.
Melih Meric, a legislator from Imamoglu’s Republican People’s Party (CHP), was seen drenched and suffering from the effects of pepper spray.
“My student friends merely wanted to make a press statement, but the police refused to allow it. This is the outcome,” Meric stated in social media videos.
Nearly 1,900 Arrested
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Thursday that nearly 1,900 individuals had been arrested during eight days of large-scale protests across the country. He reported that 1,879 suspects had been detained, including 260 who remain in custody pending trial. Another 468 were released under judicial control while their cases proceed, and legal proceedings are still underway for 662 others.
The minister stated that some detainees faced charges related to drug offenses and assault, adding that 150 police officers had been injured. While he did not specify further details, previous statements have cited offenses such as resisting arrest and violating bans on protests and gatherings.
Mass demonstrations, primarily peaceful, have swept through major cities, with opposition-led rallies outside Istanbul City Hall drawing large crowds. Additional protests have taken place in Istanbul’s Kadikoy and Sisli districts in recent days.
However, some demonstrations have escalated into violent confrontations as police have used water cannons, tear gas, plastic pellets, and pepper spray to disperse protesters in cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, where demonstrations have been officially banned.
On Thursday morning, authorities continued to conduct house raids targeting protesters. Most of those arrested in their homes were reportedly affiliated with left-wing parties, trade unions, and civil society groups.
Journalists Arrested, BBC Reporter Deported
On Wednesday, eleven journalists were detained and jailed for covering the protests. The Media and Law Studies Association reported that at least eight of them were released under judicial control the following day, though they still face protest-related charges.
Meanwhile, BBC reporter Mark Lowen was deported from Turkey after being arrested on Wednesday, the British news organisation confirmed. He was taken from his hotel, detained for 17 hours, and then issued a notice labelling him a “threat to public order,” according to a BBC statement released on Thursday.
Mayor and Over 100 Others Facing Trial
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested in a pre-dawn raid on his home last Wednesday and subsequently jailed. He faces charges linked to two investigations into the opposition-led Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality—one involving allegations of corruption and another accusing him of supporting terrorism.
As the main opposition candidate expected to challenge Erdogan in the next presidential election—currently scheduled for 2028 but potentially happening sooner—Imamoglu’s arrest has heightened political tensions.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc stated on Thursday that 106 individuals had been arrested in connection with the municipality investigations, with 51 currently in jail awaiting trial, including Imamoglu. The detainees include municipal officials and business figures facing allegations of bribery, extortion, and bid-rigging.
Many believe Imamoglu’s case is politically driven. Protesters frequently cite concerns over Turkey’s democratic decline, growing authoritarianism, and worsening economic conditions as reasons for taking to the streets.
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Imamoglu was officially confirmed as the CHP’s presidential candidate on the same day he was imprisoned. His strong performance in recent polls against Erdogan and his victory in Istanbul’s 2019 mayoral election—seen as a major political setback for the president—have made him a key figure in Turkey’s opposition movement.