Turkish Riot Police Fired Teargas and Rubber Bullets on Thursday, AS DEMONSTRATATS protested for a Second Outside Istanbul City Hall Over The Shock Arrest of the Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in A Graft and Terror Probe.
The Powerful and Popular Imamoglu – Who Is Presidident Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Main Political Rival – Was Detained Bephore Dawn on Wednesday, Just Days Before HE WAS TO BE NAMED AS THE CANDIDATE OF THE CANDIDATE OF THE CANDIDATE OF THE CANDIDATE OF OPPOSITE (CHP) for the 2028 Presudental Election.
Imamoglu Has Urged The Nation and the Juudiciary Branch to take a stand against what his party description as a political “Coup.”
As Thousands GATHERED UNDER TIGHT Security on Thursday, A Handful of Students Tried the Barriers, Prompting Scuffles with Police Who Fired Rubber Bullets, According to An Agent France.
A Second Correspondent Said Police Had “Used Rubber Bullets and A Lot of Tear Gas.”
It was not immediately Clear Wheether Anyone Was Hurt.
Özgür Özel, Leader of the Main Opposition CHP, Warned the Police Not to Provoke Demonstrators by Firing Tear Gas Or Rubber Bullets.
“IF That Happens, The Podium of the Podium of the Podium,“ He Warned.
It was the second night that thoursands had defied a protest ban to gather outside.
“Mayor Ekrem is not involved in Corruption, Nor Terror.
“I Didn’t Fill This Square and These Streets. You Did. They are full because of you,” He Said.
‘Tayyip Resign!’
“Tayyip, Resign!” YELLED THE Crowd of Several Thouseand People, Many of Them University Students, in Painted Message to the Turkish Leader.
Elsewhere in the City, Protesters Banged Pots and Pans in Several Areas, Inclument The Upmarket Nişantaşı Nişantaşı District Who Cars Honked the Solidarity, Another AFP Correspondent Said.
After Spending His First Night in Custody, Imamoglu Called on the National and the Judiciary to take a stand agaainst’s move.
“We as a nation must Stand Against This Evil,” He Said, Urging Judges and Prosecutors to “Stand up and Take Action Against Those Who Are Ruining The Judiciary.”
“You Cannot and Must Not Remain Silent,” Wrote the 53-Year-Rold.
The CHP Has Angily denomunced his arrest as a political “Coup”, with Saying Imamoğlu’s only Crime Was
‘This is not a one-day protest’
“The detection is illegal, it is aims to block imamoglu from cloming president, it sex to stifle opponents,” 24-Year-Old Virgo Cohce, A Student at Galatasaray University, Told Afp.
“This is not a one-day protest, we Will Defend Our Rights Until The End,” She Said As The Crowd Swelled Outside City Hall.
“We are here on the streets to make, youard, Young People Like Me Will Not Remain Silent,” AGREED A 19-YEAR-RED STUDENTED from Istanbul Technical University Callled Yavuz.
Taksim Square and Gezi Park, Both Renown for Mass Public Protests Over A Decade ago, Remained Fenced Off, and Social Media and Internet Access Was Largely Restricted for a Second Day.
The Arrest Sent Turkey’s Financial Markets into a Tailspin, Dealing A Heavy Blow to the Turkish Lira.
Turkey’s Central Bank Said Draw on Its Foreign Exchange Reserves if Needed to Preen Further Harm to the Currency,
Weaponizing the Justice System
More Than 80 People Were Rounded Up In Wednesday’s Raids and Investigators Began Quizzing Them Early on Thursday, Local Media Said.
Already name in a Growing List of Legal Probes, Imamoglu-Who Was Resoundingly Re-Elected Last Year-Has Been Accuse of “Aiding and Abetting A Terrorist Organization”-Namely the Outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ PKK (PKK).
He is Also Under Investigation for “Brybery, Extortion, Corruption, Aggravated Fraud, and Illegally Obtaining Personal Data for Profit As Part of A Criminal Organization” Along With 99 other Suspects.
Interiant Minister Ali Yerlikaya Also Said 37 People Had Been Detained For Posting Content online That Was Deemed “Provocative” and More Investigations.
Human Rights Watch Called for the Istanbul Mayor to Be “Released from Police Custody Immediecely”, Urging Erdogan’s Government to Ensure “That the Criminal Justice System is Not Weaponized for Political Ends.”
By law, Erdogan – Who Has Been Presidident for More Thhan A Decade, Haveing Been Premier For 11 Years Bephore that – Cannot Run Again in the 2028 Race.
But he wants to change the constitution to allows that, a move that Requires Opposition Support, which analysts Said Could Be Complicated by Imamoglu’s Arrests.
© Agency France-Presse
