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
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: An Israeli airstrike targeted the town of Arabsalim
Putin on new sanctions against Russia: Russia's energy sector remains confident, though some losses are expected
Putin calls talk of supplying Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv an attempt at escalation
Putin says he discussed with Trump the impact of the situation with Russian oil supplies on global prices, including in the United States
Dialogue is always better than confrontation, disputes, or continued war: Putin
The global energy balance has been established, and disrupting it is not in the interests of the countries attempting to do so: Putin
Russia's contribution to the global energy balance is very significant: Putin
No self-respecting country does anything under pressure: Putin
New US sanctions are an attempt to pressure Russia: Putin
Israeli media: The West Bank 'annexation' law has been suspended under Netanyahu's directives until further notice

Hundreds of thousands defy Erdogan, protest Imamoglu's arrest

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 21 Mar 2025 23:38
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Imamoglu, Istanbul's influential mayor and top political challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was arrested for fraud and terror allegations.

Listen
  • x
  • Turkey opposition leader says '300,000' join Istanbul protests
    University students protest against the arrest of Istanbul's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in Istanbul, on March 21, 2025. (AP)

Hundreds of thousands of protesters demonstrated against the arrest of Istanbul's opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, defying President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's warning that Turkey will not allow "street terrorism" late Friday.

Demonstrators marched for the third night in a row over Imamoglu's detention, Turkey's largest street rally in more than a decade.

Turkey's opposition leader Ozgur Ozel revealed that over 300,000 people participated in large rallies around Istanbul on Friday in response to the arrest of the city's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu.

"We are 300,000 people," the CHP leader addressed the massive throngs in front of City Hall, explaining that protesters had assembled at various locations around Turkey's largest city owing to road and bridge restrictions that prevented everyone from congregating in one area.

🟡 HAPPENING NOW: Scenes show the massive scale of ongoing protests across Turkey, now entering their third consecutive day.

Demonstrations continue to spread nationwide, as police respond with tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray in multiple cities. pic.twitter.com/0tpG8tpJvG

— red. (@redstreamnet) March 21, 2025

Imamoglu, Istanbul's influential mayor and top political challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was arrested for fraud and terror charges, prompting his party, the CHP, to call for new rallies in Turkey's largest city.

He shouted that Erdogan was attempting to "twist the arm" of Imamoglu by weaponizing the judiciary. 

As he spoke, violence broke out on the margins of the rally, with riot police firing tear gas and rubber bullets, according to two AFP journalists who were both shot in the leg.

Protesters in Ankara Turkey, mainly students, are pushing back police and their water cannons. pic.twitter.com/pahzX0K1uB

— kakasloi (@kakasloi) March 21, 2025

Related News

Jailed Istanbul mayor named opposition candidate; protests ongoing

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

Outside Istanbul City Hall, police deployed pepper spray and rubber bullets, according to AFP, while riot police in Izmir used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters, according to the opposition Halk TV.

"I don't believe in the allegations about Imamoglu. There is no man as honest as him," said Necla, a 56-year-old, to AFP. 

Protests expanded fast from Istanbul to at least 40 of Turkey's 81 regions, according to an AFP assessment.

As CHP's Ozel called for nationwide protests, Erdogan vowed Turkey would not surrender to "street terror", accusing Ozel of "grave irresponsibility" and raising concerns about potential legal action. Authorities extended the protest ban to Ankara and Izmir, closing key routes, while police clashed with demonstrators in Istanbul and Ankara, arresting 88.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya says 16 police officers were injured. Police detained 54 people for what police called "incitement to hatred" in internet remarks.

The decision against Imamoglu has caused a significant blow to the Turkish currency, and the BIST 100 stock exchange was trading lower on Friday, down over eight percent shortly before 1400 GMT.

Despite Imamoglu's imprisonment, the CHP has pledged to hold its primary on Sunday, where it would formally nominate him as its candidate for the 2028 election.

The party stated that it would let anybody, not only party members, to vote, stating, "Come to the ballot box and say 'no' to the coup attempt!"

According to observers, the government may strive to obstruct the primary in order to prevent Imamgolu from receiving further support.

"If a large number of people show up and vote for Imamoglu, it will further legitimize him domestically and really move things in a direction that Erdogan doesn't want," Gonul Tol of the Middle East Institute in Washington told AFP.

  • Turkey
  • Turkiye
  • Istanbul
  • Istanbul mayor
  • Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu
  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan
  • Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Most Read

From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
Smoke and fire rises after 'Israel' launched airstrikes on the village of Ansar, Lebanon, October 16, 2025 (social media)

'Israel' launches two waves of brutal strikes on east, south Lebanon

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
A woman with her purchased groceries walks out from an underground market, in Beijing, Wednesday, August 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Global brands in China face pressure from rising local rivals

  • Economy
  • 17 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
US-backed GHF in talks over future role in postwar Gaza: FT
Politics

US-backed GHF in talks over future role in postwar Gaza: FT

Rubio warns West Bank annexation threatens Trump’s Gaza peace plan
Politics

Rubio warns West Bank annexation threatens Trump’s Gaza plan

Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa trade barbs in fiery New York mayoral debate.
Politics

Mamdani, Cuomo, and Sliwa trade barbs in fiery New York mayoral debate

Artist’s rendering of the RADICALS satellite in orbit. (AP)
Technology

Europe firms agree on satellite merger to counter Starlink

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