For the sixth consecutive night, Turkish police have forcefully dispersed protests in multiple cities following the arrest of İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s main rival in the upcoming election. Security forces used tear gas, water cannons, and batons to quell unrest, detaining demonstrators rallying against what the opposition calls a politically motivated arrest.
Protests erupted on 18 March when İmamoğlu, a prominent member of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the party’s presidential candidate, was arrested on charges widely seen as politically motivated. His detention sparked nightly demonstrations, particularly in İstanbul’s Saraçhane district, where the municipality building is located.
On the sixth night of protests, police intervened as a mass rally was ending. According to ANKA news agency, the crackdown began near Bozdoğan Aqueduct, where security forces used tear gas against young demonstrators before dispersing the crowd across İstanbul’s Vezneciler and Aksaray districts. Some protesters sought refuge in the municipality building. CHP officials, including İstanbul provincial chair Özgür Çelik, condemned the police response, accusing authorities of excessive force.
“People were peacefully protesting when police launched tear gas and water cannons. Even our leader had just stepped off the stage,” Çelik said.
Tensions were not limited to İstanbul. In Ankara, police used riot shields and water cannons to block demonstrators marching from Kızılay’s Selanik Street towards Atatürk Boulevard. Protesters, carrying banners and chanting slogans such as ‘Justice for İmamoğlu’ and ‘Government resign’, clashed with security forces. Police ordered the crowd to disperse before forcibly breaking up the demonstration, leading to multiple arrests, as reported by Halk TV.
In the western city of İzmir, protests continued for a second night, with demonstrators marching from Bornova’s Küçükpark to Büyükpark, chanting slogans against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Police stopped a group attempting to march towards the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) provincial headquarters, deploying water cannons and tear gas. Another clash took place outside İzmir’s Kültürpark Lozan Gate, where police used batons to disperse the crowd.
İmamoğlu, who gained prominence after his 2019 election victory over Erdoğan’s AKP, has been a vocal critic of the government. His arrest is viewed by opposition groups as an attempt to sideline him ahead of the upcoming presidential elections. International human rights organisations have raised concerns over the crackdown, with Amnesty International calling for the release of detained protesters and an end to what it described as “state repression”.
With tensions rising and opposition figures condemning the arrests, Turkey faces growing unrest as demonstrators continue to demand justice for İmamoğlu.
