The second night of the protest in Istanbul explodes despite the ban

In Istanbul, the police used tear gas and rubber bullets against the demonstrators on a second night of turmoil after the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul, Akram Imamoglu – despite the prohibition of protest for four days.

IMamoglu – a member of the Secular Republican People’s Party (CHP) and a major competitor to Turkey President Tayyip Ardogan – as a presidential candidate in the 2028 presidential elections later this week.

On Wednesday, he was one of the 106 people detained on charges of corruption and terrorist group assistant.

Since then, the authorities in Türkiye have arrested dozens of people for “provocative positions” on social media.

In response to the protests, Türkiye’s President Erdogan accused his political opponents of plays to participate in a second night of demonstrations.

“They have lost the balance to the point that they are in a state to attack our police, and receive the threats of judges and prosecutors,” he said.

In his speech to a crowd of demonstrators outside the Istanbul city hall, Ozjor Ozil, the leader of the Chp party in Imamoglu, accused the government of trying to “coup” and said that people had the right to protest.

On Thursday morning, Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya announced that the police have identified 261 “suspects account managers” via the Internet who claimed to end the content “incitement to the public to hatred and hostility” and “incitement to commit a crime.”

“Thirty -seven suspects were arrested and efforts continued to capture other suspects,” he said, adding that more than 18.6 million jobs appeared on the Internet about the arrest of Wednesday by 0600 local time (0300 GMT) on Thursday.

A message posted on the xamoglu’s x account On Thursday, Türkiye called for “standing against this evil as a nation”, and urged the members of the judiciary and Erdogan to fight injustice.

“These events have exceeded our parties, the political ideals. This process is now related to our employees, which is your family,” said Imamoglu. “It is time to raise our voices.”

Perhaps the mayor of Istanbul spent its first night in detention, but the municipality is still controlled by the opposition party.

When the passengers resigned trains at metro stations throughout the city, one of the general sermons of IMamoglu were registered from the loudspeakers: “I am honored to win this battle.”

University students walked in the streets chanting: “We are not afraid, and we will not be silenced, and we will not obey” – a joint opposition slogan in Türkiye.

However, the number of demonstrators is still relatively young for a city of more than 16 million people. Currently, they are unlikely to cause political pressure on Erdogan to launch Imamoglu.

The arrests of the Imamoglu and other major campaign in the country in recent months, targeting opposition politicians, journalists and personalities in the entertainment industry.

More fear for interrogation will be presented in the coming weeks as part of a intimidation campaign.

Opposition figures say the arrests are motivated. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Justice criticized those who linked Erdogan to arrest, and insisted on their judicial independence.

Imamoglu won the second period of Istanbul Mayor last year, when the CP party invaded the local elections there and in Ankara.

This was the first time since Erdogan reached power, defeating his party throughout the country in the ballot box.

The elections were also a personal blow to the president, who grew up and became the mayor of Istanbul as he ascended to power.

Erdogan has occupied his position over the past 22 years, as Prime Minister and Prime Minister. Because of the limits of the duration, he cannot run for positions again in 2028 unless the constitution changes.

The Chp presidential candidate, in which 1.5 million members will vote and Imamoglu will be the only person who runs, on Sunday.

The party also called on citizens to vote in symbolic elections, with plans to put ballot boxes in regions throughout Türkiye so that people show their support for the detained mayor.