Huge pro-democracy protests grip Turkey after Erdogan rival is imprisoned
Turkey has been rocked by six nights of protests over the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a major rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Turkey has been rocked by six nights of protests over the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a major rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan whose detention is widely viewed as politically motivated.
More than 1,100 people were detained, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Monday, adding that dozens of police officers were injured and dangerous materials, including acid, firebombs and knives had been seized at demonstrations across the country.
NBC News looks at what the protests might mean for Turkey, an important U.S. ally, as fears grow about the state of its democracy and the rule of law.
Demonstrators first took to the streets shortly after Imamoglu was detained at his home in Istanbul on Wednesday. In a social media video that he said he filmed while police were outside his home, Imamoglu said he would “stand resolute” for the people of Turkey “and all who uphold democracy and justice worldwide.”
Since then, protests have taken place in Istanbul, Ankara, the capital, and the western city of Izmir, as well as smaller cities and towns across Turkey.
Rating: 5