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
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

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

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

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