Police in Türkiye’s capital on Thursday deployed pepper spray, rubber bullets, and water cannons against protesters, breaking two days of relative calm in the country’s largest anti-government demonstrations in over a decade.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that 1,418 people have been detained over the past week.
Mass protests have erupted across major cities, with hundreds of thousands gathering, including at CHP rallies outside Istanbul’s city hall. A historic aqueduct near the hall has become a flashpoint, with daily clashes between police and demonstrators.
Why are people protesting?
The unrest began after the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key opposition leader and rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Charged with corruption and alleged ties to terrorism, Imamoglu’s supporters see his detention as politically motivated. The government insists on judicial independence, but critics argue the case relies on weak evidence and secret witnesses.
CHP chairman Özgür Özel has announced nationwide protests, culminating in a massive rally in Istanbul this Saturday—marking the start of the party’s campaign to position Imamoglu as a contender for the 2028 presidential elections.
Meanwhile, Erdogan has accused the opposition of destabilizing the economy, vowing to hold those responsible “accountable.”
