Protests erupt in Turkiye over Istanbul mayor arrest
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Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in numerous Turkish cities calling for the resignation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government.
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People gather outside the City Hall to protest the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in Istanbul, Turkiye, Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP)
Thousands of Turks took to the streets on Wednesday night in multiple cities to protest the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Istanbul, Ankara, Trabzon, and Izmir, calling for the resignation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government.
Opposition party calls for nationwide protests
Following Imamoglu's arrest, the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP)—of which he is a leading member—called for nationwide demonstrations and urged its supporters to gather outside party offices across Turkiye.
According to Turkish media, riot police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters, as tensions escalated in major cities.
Imamoglu was set to challenge Erdogan
Reuters reported that the CHP was on the verge of officially nominating Imamoglu as its candidate to challenge Erdogan in upcoming elections. The agency described him as a strong contender in any future presidential race.
Meanwhile, AFP noted that the arrest could derail Imamoglu's plans to run against Erdogan in the 2028 elections, as it comes just days before his expected formal nomination as the CHP’s presidential candidate.
Following Imamoglu’s detention, Turkiye restricted access to multiple social media platforms, including X, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, according to the NetBlocks internet observatory.
Tightening the noose on Imamoglu
In a separate development, a Turkish university on Tuesday revoked Imamoglu’s degree, alleging it was fraudulently obtained.
Under the Turkish constitution, a presidential candidate must hold a higher education degree.
Imamoglu denounced the ruling as "unlawful" and vowed to challenge it in court. "We will fight this illegitimate decision in court," said the 53-year-old, who has faced mounting legal challenges that critics describe as politically motivated. "
We will build a system that will erase injustice from this country's memory," he added, warning that those responsible for the decision would one day be held accountable.
Opposition CHP leader Ozgur Ozel condemned the move as a "black mark" on Turkiye’s legal and academic institutions, insisting it would not deter the party from nominating Imamoglu as its presidential candidate. He is expected to be formally named at a party congress on Sunday.
