Hundreds of thousands of protesters filled Istanbul’s streets on Sunday for a fifth night of protest against the arrest of the Turkish president’s main rival.
Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, was detained on Wednesday and formally arrested and jailed pending trial over corruption charges earlier today.
Police used pepper spray and fired rubber bullets into the crowd that gathered outside Istanbul’s city hall.
Reporting from Istanbul on Sunday evening, Sky News’ special correspondent Alex Crawford described the protests as “relatively peaceful” but said they were “the biggest protests Turkey has seen in more than a decade”.
The huge demonstrations have continued despite a ban on gatherings in Istanbul imposed this week – but many protesters hid their faces with masks.
Most protesters did not want to speak on camera as they were scared of being recognised, Crawford said, but “they feel their democracy is being eroded”.
She said questions remained over how long authorities would allow these protests to continue – and whether they will escalate into a real crisis for Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The protests have now entered their fifth day. Pic: AP
A protestor holds a sign referencing Turkey’s President Erdogan
The protests intensified after Mr Imamoglu was charged on Sunday with running a criminal organisation, accepting bribes, extortion, illegally recording personal data and bid-rigging. A request to detain Mr Imamoglu on terror-related charges was denied.
Following the ruling, he was transferred to Silivri prison, west of Istanbul.
Sky News’s Alex Crawford at the protest in Istanbul
Protesters did not want to speak on camera – but shared fears for their country’s democracy
Mr Imamoglu has labelled all of the claims “unimaginable accusations and slanders”.
Many viewed his detention as a political move to remove him from the 2028 presidential race – deepening concerns over the country’s democracy and the rule of law.
The man who triggered Turkey protests
The Turkish government denies Mr Imamoglu’s arrest was politically motivated and says the courts are independent.
Mr Erdogan has served as Turkey’s president since his Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power in 2003.
Police officers use anti riot rifles and pepper spray. Pic: AP
Pc: AP
Its biggest opponent in the next election looks set to be the Republican People’s Party (CHP), which this weekend began holding a primary presidential election to endorse Mr Imamoglu, their only presidential candidate.
The party also set up solidarity boxes where non-members could show their support – and at the time of tonight’s protest, more than 13 million had done so, according to the CHP.
In a post on social media, Mr Imamoglu praised the result, saying the people had told Mr Erdogan: “Enough is enough.”
“That ballot box will arrive and the nation will deliver a slap to the administration it will never forget,” he said.
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Mr Imamoglu – who could be prevented from running for president if he is convicted – was one of 48 people jailed pending trial this weekend. The others being held include a key aide and two Istanbul district mayors.
While this week’s protests have largely been peaceful, there has been some violence in Istanbul, as well as other cities including Ankara and Izmir.
Riot police officers use pepper spray to clear a protester in Istanbul. Pic: AP
A protester holds a placard that reads ”My underwear is cleaner than Erdogan”. Pic: Reuters
Clashes have seen police deploy water canons, tear gas and pepper spray at protestors, some of whom threw stones and fireworks at riot officers.
Turkey’s interior minister said 323 people were detained on Saturday evening over disturbances at protests.
