On 23 March, protests escalated across Turkey in response to the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu. While the protests began peacefully, they were met with severe police violence as security forces used excessive force against demonstrators. The situation took a worrying turn with reports of police using torture-like tactics against demonstrators in Istanbul, Ankara and other major cities, including Adana, Bursa, and Antalya.
As the protests spread, police increasingly used water cannons, rubber bullets and pepper spray to disperse the crowds. In Saraçhane, Istanbul, where demonstrators gathered to express their discontent, the violence intensified. Police fired plastic bullets indiscriminately into the crowd, injuring many and raising tensions. According to eyewitness accounts, the police response in Saraçhane went beyond crowd control and turned into what some described as torture.
The police crackdown also coincided with reports of online censorship. The Turkish government reportedly ordered the suspension of over 700 social media accounts, including those belonging to activists and opposition supporters on X (formerly Twitter).
The use of pepper spray during the protests has been condemned by several rights groups, who have called for a total ban due to its harmful physical and psychological effects. Izmir Medical Association criticised the use of chemical agents such as pepper spray, stressing the irreversible damage they cause, especially when used indiscriminately against peaceful demonstrators.
CHP leader Özgür Özel has denounced the violence. Speaking in Saraçhane on Sunday night, Özel condemned the police tactics, saying: “Violence against peaceful demonstrators is unacceptable. We stand with the people and will continue to fight for democracy and justice.
In a related development, Özgür Çelik, the CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair, spoke out from Vatan Police Headquarters about the ongoing illegal detentions and reports of mistreatment. Çelik stated that detainees had faced violence and that phones were confiscated during the process, with claims of procedural irregularities. The CHP has been providing legal assistance, with lawyers working continuously for the past three days. He also announced that a team of lawmakers would investigate the violence and irregularities, ensuring each complaint is thoroughly examined and made public.
