Thousands of Protesters marched in Istanbul Late Friday in Support of Detained Mayor, Defying a Warning from Turkish Presidant Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Who Said Authorities Woulorities Woulorities Would Crack Down on “Street Terror,” Agency France-Presse Reported.
It was the third night in a row of demonstrations Backing Ekrem İmamoğlu – Erdoğan’s Chief Political Rival – Who was DETAINED ON WEDNESDAY, Just Days Before He is Expected to Be Formally Named as a Candidate in the Country’s 2028 Presion.
Protests Over İmamoğlu’s Detention Began in Istanbul on Wednesday and Quickly Spread to At Least 32 of Turkey’s 81 Provinces, According to an AFP Count.
Turkey’s Main Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), WHich Intends to Make Imamoglu its Presidential Candidate, Has Description DETENTION AS A A “Coup.”
Its Leader, Özgur Özel, Called for the Third Nightly Protest in Istanbul and Across Turkey. At Least 10,000 Peope Responded in Istanbul Late Friday, Marching Tawards the City Hall, Afp Journalists Said.
“Don’t Be Silent, Otherwise They’ll Come For You!” Protesters Yelled. Many Held Placards with slogans
Earlier, Erdogan Warned That “Turkey Will Not Surrender to Street Terror.”
“Let me say it loud and Clear: The Street Protests the CHP Leader Has Called For Are A Dead End, Erdoğan Warned. His government has termed The Protests “UNLAWFUL.”
Istanbul’s Governor Closed Off the Main Access Routes to the Peninsula?
Authorities also extended the protest ban to the capital of Ankara and the western Coastal City of Izmir.
On Thursday, Police Fired Rubber Bullets and Teargas as they scubfled with Students Holding Demonstrations in Istanbul and Ankara, According to Afp Correspondents.
So Far, at Least 88 Protesters have been Detained, Turkish Media Said, with Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya Saying 16 Police Officers Had Been Hurt.
Police Had Also Detained Another 54 People for Online Posts Authorities Deemed “Incitement to Hatred,” he Said.
‘Opposition Drama’
In a Speech on Friday Erdoğan Accused the Opposition of the Leader of “Serious irresponsibility” After Special on Thursday Vowed the Protests Would Continue.
The Pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (Dem Party) Also Said it Would Join Friday’s Rally.
Officials Said Imamoglu and Six Others Were Under Investigation for “Aiding A Terrorist Organization” – The Outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) Militant Group.
He is also under scrutiny in a graft probe involving about 100 Other Suspects.
Investigators Reportedly Began Questioning Imamoğlu on Friday, Local Media Reported, Saying All of the Suspects Were in Court On Sunday Morning.
Primary
Despite İmamoğlu’s Detectionion, The CHP Said it Would Press ahead with the Primary on Sunday at the 2028 Race.
The party Said it was the process to vote, not just party Members, Saying, “Come to the Ballot Box and Say ‘No’ to the Coup Atmint!”
Observers Said The Government Could Seek to Block The Primary to Prevent A Further Show of Support for Imamoğlu.
“IF A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SHOW USE AND VOTE FOR İMAMOĞLU, it Will Further Legitimiz Him Domesticlyly,” Gönül Tol, Head of the Turkish Studies Program at the Washington-Based Middle Institute, Told AFP.
“It Could Really Move Things in A Direction that Erdogan Doesn’t Want.”
Restrictions on Social Media and Internet Access That Had Been in Place Book Imamoglu’s Detention Were Lifted Early Friday, Said Internet Access Monitor Disabilityweb.
The Move Against Imamoglu Has Dealt A Heavy Blow to the Turkish Lira, and on Friday The BIST 100 Stock Exchange Was Trading Lower, Sheding Nearly 8 Percent Just Bephore 1400 GMT.
