Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: For the first time, Prime Minister Netanyahu is signaling that he wants to end the war on Gaza
Israeli Channel 12, citing an American source: We want to have entered a path toward captive release and a ceasefire before Netanyahu arrives in Washington
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One martyr and two injured in the Israeli airstrike that targeted a motorcycle in the town of Mahrouna
Al Mayadeen correspondent to Southern Lebanon: An Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle between the towns of Jwayya and Mahrouna.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyred in the Israeli drone strike on a car in the town of Kawnin
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone targets a car in the town of Kawnin
Naeini: If our national interests are attacked again, our response this time will be stronger and more destructive
Naeini: The war has proven that the settlers are defenseless against Iranian missile and drone forces
Naeini: Trump lacks an understanding of the true strength of the Iranian people and is so deluded as to believe he can change the reality of Iran's victory
Naeini: The defeat led to Trump's confusion and loss of balance, which was reflected in his ill-considered statements

Erdogan to protesters: Turkey won't surrender to 'street terror'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 21 Mar 2025 18:34
3 Min Read

The Turkish president's remarks come after he previously dismissed the protests as "opposition drama".

Listen
  • x
  • Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a NEWS conference at Bogor Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, Feb. 12, 2025 (AP)
    Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a news conference at Bogor Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, Feb. 12, 2025 (AP)

Turkish President Recep Tayeb Erdogan warned that his country won't succumb to what he described as "street terror", days after unrest erupted in Istanbul following the arrest of the opposition's Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. 

"Turkey will not surrender to street terror," Erdogan said, as the leader of the main opposition CHP called for nationwide protests later on Friday over a move it has denounced as a "coup," creating a tense political atmosphere. "Let me say it loud and clear: the street protests that the CHP leader has called for are a dead end," Erdogan added.

Meanwhile, the governor of Istanbul closed off the Galata and Ataturk bridges, the main routes to City Hall, as thousands of protesters defied the protest ban declared in Istanbul and later expanded to include Ankara and Izmir.

Erdogan's statements follow the eruption of nation-wide protests in at least 32 out of Turkiye's 81 provinces, after the opposition candidate Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested on corruption charges. 

Protests erupt in Turkiye

Related News

Jailed Istanbul mayor named opposition candidate; protests ongoing

Hundreds of thousands defy Erdogan, protest Imamoglu's arrest

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Istanbul, Ankara, Trabzon, and Izmir calling for the resignation of the current president Recep Tayeb Erdogan, after the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu on charges of "leading a criminal organization, bribery, tender rigging, and aiding a terrorist group," as reported by CNN Turk on March 19.

On March 20, Erdogan dismissed the protests which are Turkiye's worst in years as "the opposition's drama," however, the Turkish president escalated his rhetoric on Friday, accusing his opposition's leader of "grave responsibility". Özgür Özel, leader of the CHP, vowed that protests will continue in the country on Thursday.

Ozgur Ozel, the CHP leader, previously called the arrest a "coup", stating, "Imamoglu's only crime was that he was taking the lead in opinion polls, his only crime was that he won the hearts of the people. His only crime was he would be the next president."

"From now on, no one should expect CHP to do politics in halls or buildings, we'll be on the streets and in the squares," he told a group of protesters at City Hall.

Restrictions on social media were set on the day of Imamoglu's arrest were lifted on Friday morning, according to EngelliWeb internet access monitor.

So far, 88 protesters have been arrested according to Turkish media, while the Interior Ministry announced on March 20 that 37 people were detained for the alleged posting of "provocative posts inciting crime and hatred" in response to the Istanbul mayor's arrest. 

Authorities in Turkiye identified 261 social media accounts, including 62 based abroad, for sharing "provocative posts" following Imamoglu's arrest, while 105 individuals have already been detained, and Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects.

  • Istanbul mayor
  • Ekrem Imamoglu
  • Protests
  • Erdogan
  • Istanbul
  • Turkiye

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli occupation soldiers search for settlers amid the rubble of buildings destroyed by an Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam, central occupied Palestine, on Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran missile strike flattens Bat Yam, displaces 2,000 settlers

Palestinian fighters from the Islamic Jihad militant group riding on a truck with weaponry on display take part in an anti-Israel parade marking the 36th anniversary of the movement's founding, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian Resistance attacks Israeli forces in Khan Younis, Jabalia

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stands waiting to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran suspends IAEA cooperation, Araghchi blames Grossi for attacks

The commander of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit, Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi (Illustrated by Mahdi Rtail for Al Mayadeen English)
Politics

Who was Mohammad Said Izadi, head of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit?

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS