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Protests persist in Turkey despite mass arrests

Wednesday 26 - 12:37 By: Zahouani Ilham

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Protests erupted in Turkey on March 19 following the arrest of Istanbul’s opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, amid a corruption and "terror" investigation. His supporters denounced the arrest as a political maneuver and a "coup." Large crowds have gathered daily, defying protest bans in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, with the unrest spreading nationwide.

In a potential shift in strategy, the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), announced it would not organize another nightly protest but would instead focus on a major rally planned for Saturday. However, it remains uncertain whether students, who have become increasingly active in the protests, will continue their involvement.

Despite the government’s crackdown, which has led to violent clashes between protesters and riot police, no such confrontations occurred on Tuesday. By the afternoon, police had detained 1,418 people, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. Among those detained were 11 journalists, including AFP photographer Yasin Akgul, whose arrest was condemned by rights groups.

Imamoglu, widely regarded as a serious challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was also jailed over the weekend. Opposition leader Ozgul Ozel addressed the gathered crowds, asserting that the crackdown would only intensify the movement. He vowed that arrests would not diminish their numbers, but rather cause them to grow.

The government has warned that no leniency will be shown to those involved in the unrest. So far, 172 people have been jailed for actions such as provoking violence or hiding their faces, while others have been granted conditional release.

Despite the arrests, the protests show no signs of abating. Erdogan has condemned the rallies, calling them "street terror," while protestors, including students, maintain their resolve. Many covered their faces to avoid retaliation, with one student, Mali, explaining that they were fighting for democratic rights and a freer Turkey.

The CHP’s Ozel announced that while there would be no protest on Wednesday, the movement would continue with a rally on Saturday to demand early elections.