Hundreds of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, in a massive rally organized by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) against the jailing of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The CHP has designated Imamoglu as its candidate for an early presidential election despite his detention on contested corruption and terrorism charges.
The protests began after Imamoglu’s March 19 arrest, which is seen by many as a politically motivated move to silence him ahead of a potential presidential run against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Western governments and rights groups have condemned the arrest, calling it “politically motivated” and “unlawful”.
Protesters gathered in Maltepe on the Asian side of Istanbul, waving Turkish flags and banners, with estimates suggesting up to 2.2 million people joined the rally. CHP leader Ozgur Ozel called for a boycott of media outlets and brands that are seen as supportive of Erdogan.
Imamoglu addressed the crowd in a read-out letter, urging unity against his arrest and vowing not to bow to “tyranny”. He accused Erdogan of running away from elections and being afraid of his opponent. Some protesters were seen chanting slogans reminiscent of the 2013 massive protests centered around Taksim Square.
The CHP has vowed to continue demonstrations until Imamoglu is released and cleared to run in early elections. However, authorities have cracked down on media coverage, detaining several journalists, including a Swedish journalist who was held for “insulting the president” and belonging to a “terrorist organization”.
The protests are part of a growing movement against Erdogan’s rule, with hundreds of thousands joining nationwide demonstrations since Imamoglu’s detention. The opposition is seen as the only force capable of challenging Erdogan in an election, but his arrest has raised concerns about the fairness of the process.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-hundreds-of-thousands-join-growing-istanbul-protest/a-72082321