Watch: Crowds gather in Istanbul for protest on the sixth day
Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan has denounced opposition parties for triggering “movements of violence” as the six-night protests continue.
Anxiety began in Istanbul last Wednesday when Mayor Erdogan’s major presidential rival, Erdogan’s mayor Ekrem Imamogul, was taken into custody on corruption charges.
Thousands of people gathered again on Monday. Protesters escalated Sunday night and were fired for tear gas and rubber bullets.
Imamoguru also halted from his post as mayor and said allegations against him were politically motivated.
Protesters accompanied me around Istanbul City Hall on Monday night, just as the crowd chanted and waving around the Turkish flag.
The protests did not repeat the violent clashes seen on Sunday, and while the protests seemed largely peaceful, vehicles carrying water guns were also seen nearby.
In figures released before the gathering on Monday evening, the Turkish government said 1,133 people have been arrested since the protest began.
In a previous television statement, Erdogan called the demonstrations “evil” and denounced the opposition parties for “disturbing the peace of our citizens with provocation.”
Speaking from the Turkish capital Ankara, he called for the protest to be ended, saying that “not responding to the allegations,” the opposition “issued the most despicable and illegal statement in our political history.” [the last] 5 days.”
CHP leader Özgürözel spoke to thousands of people gathered on Monday night. He said the demonstration was “an act of rebellion against fascism.”
Ozel said he will be visiting Imamoguru at Silibri prison on Tuesday. He said the CHP would appeal for politicians to be released until trial, and would sue his trial to be shown live on state broadcaster TRT.
Despite being detained, Imamoguru was confirmed on Monday as the Republican People’s Party (CHP) candidate for Turkey’s 2028 presidential election. The vote confirming his candidacy was iconic as he was the only person running.
He was officially arrested earlier that day, spending his time in prison with “establishing and managing criminal organizations, taking bribery, rigging fear, illegal records of personal data and bidding.”
In a post on X over the weekend, Imamoguru said he would “never bow” and criticised his arrest as “the black stain of our democracy.”
He also sent greetings to the protesters, saying voters showed Turkey had “sufficient” and “sufficient” for Erdogan.
The recent demonstrations are the largest in Turkey since the 2013 GEZI protest that began in Istanbul over the demolition of a local park.
They were mostly peaceful, but Sunday police officers fired the tank and used pepper spray as the clash unfolded.
Imamoguru’s wife, Direk Kaya Imamoguru, was also outside the Istanbul city hall and told demonstrators that the “fraud” her husband faced “hastened a chord with all his conscience.”
Imamoguru was one of more than 100 people who were detained last week as part of the investigation. Others arrested included politicians, journalists and businessmen.
His arrest does not prevent him from running or election as president, but if he is convicted of any of the charges against him, he cannot run.
The imprisoned politician is considered one of Erdogan’s most terrifying rivals, having been in Turkey for 22 years as both prime minister and president.
However, due to time limits, Erdogan will not be able to re-inaust in 2028 unless the constitution is changed.
The Turkish Ministry of Justice criticized those who linked Erdogan to his arrest and advocated for his judicial independence.
