Hundreds of thousands rally in Istanbul as oppn decries Erdogan’s crackdown on political rivals

Hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in Istanbul on Saturday to show support for the city’s jailed mayor and demand his release.

The demonstration, organised by Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) is the latest in a series of protests that have led to hundreds of detentions and increased pressure on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key political rival to Erdogan, was detained on March 19 on corruption and terrorism charges widely viewed as politically motivated. The government, however, maintains that the judiciary operates independently and without political interference.

His arrest on March 23 over corruption allegations has fueled nationwide demonstrations despite bans on public gatherings, police crackdowns, and legal threats from authorities.

The mass protests, which began with Imamoglu’s March 19 detention on contested fraud and “terror” charges, have prompted a repressive government response that has been sharply condemned by rights groups and drawn criticism from abroad.

Widely seen as the only politician capable of challenging President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the ballot box, Imamoglu was elected as CHP’s candidate for the 2028 race on the day he was jailed.

As his wife, Dilek, arrived on stage, massive applause arose from the crowd which was a sea of Turkish flags and pictures of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, modern Turkey’s founding father.

Imamoglu was resoundingly re-elected mayor for the third time last year. The anger over his arrest which began in Istanbul quickly spread across Turkey.

Nightly protests outside Istanbul City Hall drew vast crowds and often degenerated into running battles with riot police, who used teargas, pepper spray and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters.

“We are here today for our homeland. We, the people, elect our rulers,” insisted 17-year-old Melis Basak Ergun, a young protester who vowed they would never be cowed “by violence or tear gas”.

“We stand behind our mayor, Imamoglu.”

Turkish authorities did not comment on the latest mass protest. Erdogan has previously branded the demonstrations “street terror”.

‘Erdogan is closing his ears’

In a letter read out to the crowd, Imamoglu addressed Turkey’s youngsters, saying: “If young people are on the front line, it’s because they’re the ones who feel most anxiety about the future.

“The youth are telling Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Show the people respect. Don’t touch the nation’s will. Don’t cheat – compete fairly. But Erdogan is closing his ears to these voices,” he wrote.

“This is not about Ekrem Imamoglu, it’s about our country… It is about justice, democracy and freedom,” he said, as the crowd roared back: “Rights! Law! Justice!”

“Everywhere is Taksim, resistance is everywhere!” they chanted, referring to Istanbul’s iconic Taksim Square, site of the last massive wave of protests in 2013.

The last major demonstration called by CHP was Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s big rally, although students have continued to protest throughout the week.

Speaking to French newspaper Le Monde, Ozel said there would be weekly rallies every Saturday in different cities across Turkey as well as a weekly Wednesday night demo in Istanbul.

“If we don’t stop this attempted coup, it will mean the end of the ballot box,” he said.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Thursday that nearly 1,900 people had been detained since March 19, and pro-government media reported Friday that public prosecutors had requested up to three years imprisonment for 74 of the detainees.

Police kept their distance at Saturday’s rally with no new arrests reported. Ozel called for the immediate release of Imamoglu, as well as for other political prisoners including Selahattin Demirtas, a former presidential candidate and founder of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party, or DEM.

With inputs from agencies