Turkey warns against growing street protests over detained Istanbul mayor
Turkey’s government warned against “illegal” calls from the main opposition for street protests over the detention of Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
Turkey’s government warned on Friday against “illegal” calls from the main opposition for street protests over the detention of Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, after thousands demonstrated across the country in the last two days.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said 53 people were detained and 16 police officers were injured in protests that began at university campuses, Istanbul municipal headquarters and elsewhere on Thursday, triggering scattered clashes.
Imamoglu, who is President Tayyip Erdogan’s main political rival and leads him in some polls, was detained on Wednesday facing charges including graft and aiding a terrorist group.
The mayor’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has condemned the move as politically-motivated and urged people to lawfully demonstrate, while European leaders have criticised the detention as democratic backsliding.
Yerlikaya and the justice minister, Yilmaz Tunc, criticised the calls for action from CHP leader Ozgur Ozel as “irresponsible” amid a four-day ban on public gatherings.
Rating: 5