Anti-Erdogan protests continue in Turkey as detained Istanbul mayor dismisses allegations of corruption

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Saturday (March 22) told enforcement agencies that allegations levelled against him, which led to his arrest earlier this week, were “immoral and baseless”. In a statement released through City Hall, the main rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the legal cases against him are designed to ruin his credibility.

“The immoral and baseless accusations directed at me… are designed to undermine my standing and credibility,” the mayor said as police questioned him for several hours on Saturday.

Imamoglu is currently facing two separate investigations, including related to charges of leading a crime organisation, bribery as well as tender rigging. He was detained on Wednesday, just days ahead of his potential nomination as a candidate in the country’s 2028 presidential election.

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Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu's fate hangs in the balance as prosecutors seek his arrest Over 340 arrests made in Turkey following mass protests against Erdogan

Protests happening across the country

Observers believe Imamoglu’s arrest could mark a turning point in the fight for democracy in Turkey. Protests have erupted across university campuses and in cities and towns. On Friday night, Imamoglu’s allies said more than 300,000 people joined their call to hit the streets to show support for the mayor.

Turkish interior ministry later said 343 demonstrators were detained amid clashes with police officers.

“This is bigger than İmamoğlu. It’s about a fight for democracy, law and equal rights,” Guardian quoted a 26-year-old protestor as saying. “There are problems with the ­economy, with education, with the health ­system,” she said, adding, “We are fed up with this government.”

The protests have taken place despite a protest ban in Turkey’s three largest cities and a warning from President Erdogan that the authorities would not tolerate “street terror”.

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Erdogan vows to crush ‘street terror’ as Turkey’s opposition holds massive protests against leader’s arrest

“Turkey is not a country that will be on the street – it will not surrender to street terrorism,” Erdogan warned Friday.

Journalists targeted

Meanwhile, a journalists’ union in Turkey said Saturday that authorities were deliberately targeting their colleagues, with many having faced beatings and rubber bullets.

In some cases, police also broke their cameras and equipment, the union alleged.

“We condemn the heavy-handed and completely arbitrary riot police violence against journalists,” said Erol Onderoglu of Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

The action against Imamoglu has shaken investor confidence, causing the Turkish lira to weaken and the BIST 100 index to drop nearly eight per cent by Friday’s close.

(With inputs from agencies)