Sunday 30 / March / 2025
Following six straight nights of protests in cities across Turkey, authorities have detained 1,879 people since the demonstrations began last Wednesday, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
The protests erupted after Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key opposition figure and rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was jailed on corruption charges.
Yerlikaya said that of those detained, 260 remain in custody awaiting trial, while 489 have been released and 662 are still under legal review.
He added that 150 police officers were injured during the unrest and claimed that some of the detainees had past criminal records or alleged links to banned groups.
All protesters were held on accusations of resisting law enforcement, the Interior Ministry told Germany's DPA news agency. A nationwide ban on public gatherings has now been extended through April 1.
Imamoglu stripped of candidacy requirements before arrest
One day before being jailed, Imamoglu was stripped of his university degree — a requirement for running for president in Turkey. He was then removed from office and detained on charges related to financial misconduct.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc defended the arrest during a briefing with international media in Istanbul.
He said the case was based on serious allegations, and that Turkey had asked European partners to approach the situation with "common sense."
Tunc also addressed the timing of Imamoglu's arrest, which came just before he was expected to be named as the main opposition candidate for the 2028 presidential election.
The minister claimed the legal action was based on criminal investigations, not political timing. "We don't want the arrest of any politician, but if there is evidence of a violation then it can happen," he said.
