{"id":131060,"date":"2025-03-23T23:54:34","date_gmt":"2025-03-23T23:54:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/huge-protests-across-turkey-after-presidents-main-rival-jailed-bbc-com\/"},"modified":"2025-03-23T23:54:34","modified_gmt":"2025-03-23T23:54:34","slug":"huge-protests-across-turkey-after-presidents-main-rival-jailed-bbc-com","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/huge-protests-across-turkey-after-presidents-main-rival-jailed-bbc-com\/","title":{"rendered":"Huge protests across Turkey after president's main rival jailed – BBC.com"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thousands of people are defying a ban on gatherings and taking to the streets in Turkey<\/a>, following the jailing of Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu
Imamoglu is Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival<\/a> and has been charged with corruption after being detained on Wednesday
Some of Turkey's largest protests in more than a decade<\/a> have been taking place since then
Imamoglu was detained just days before he was expected to announce his candidacy for the 2028 presidential election<\/a>
Today, with nearly 15 million people said to have voted<\/a>, Imamoglu's party named him a presidential candidate<\/a>
The opposition say the arrest is politically motivated, but Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has denied this
This video can not be played
Watch: Police uses pepper spray on protesters in Turkey
Edited by Tinshui Yeung
Tom Joyner<\/strong>
Live reporter<\/span>
After days of political drama in Turkey, tensions are running high.
It all started on Wednesday with the arrest of Istanbul\u2019s mayor. By Sunday, he was in detention<\/a>, awaiting trial on corruption charges.
The next presidential election is still three years away, but a major showdown is already taking shape.
On one side is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan<\/a>, accused by critics of trying to silence a political rival.
On the other, his jailed challenger, Ekrem Imamoglu<\/a>, a hugely popular mayor seen by many as a future leader – although questions remain over his ability to run<\/a>.
\u201cHe is a significant threat to President Erdogan,\u201d Turkey analyst Steven A Cook tells the BBC<\/a>.
Across the country, thousands have defied orders to stay home, clashing with police<\/a> in support of the mayor.
In Istanbul, emotions are running especially high.
\u201cThis is oppression,\u201d said Mevl\u00fcde Karata\u015f outside court<\/a>.
Another supporter said: "We are maybe living the most important days of our democracy in the last 100 years."
That\u2019s all from our live coverage today. You can read more here<\/a>.
The leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has been posting on X after the government requested a ban on hundreds of accounts<\/a> on the social media platform.
"Today they are trying to suppress social media," Ozgur Ozel writes. "Accept it now Mr. Tayyip [President Erdogan], you cannot suppress the voice of the people."
"I congratulate the [X] administration for its democratic and liberal attitude and hope that it will continue this attitude with courage," Ozel adds.
Earlier today, Turkey's justice minister has spoken about the jailing of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, saying it's wrong to call the judicial investigation a "political investigation".
"Drawing legal evaluations to political grounds may cause false perceptions in the public opinion and also constitutes a violation of the principle of the Rule of Law," Yilmaz Tunc says.
He adds that justice is only served by independent and impartial judicial authorities that make decisions on behalf of the Turkish nation.
We're now showing you a drone clip with footage from the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).
You can see the huge scale of the protest tonight.
This video can not be played
Thousands protest after Istanbul mayor arrested
There\u2019s no credible basis for the corruption charges against Ekrem Imamoglu, says Steven A. Cook, a Turkey analyst at the Council on Foreign Relations.
He tells the BBC there\u2019s a "stunning irony" to the charges, as President Erdogan himself has faced allegations of "massive corruption" for the past decade.
Cook says Imamoglu\u2019s arrest and detention this week have only made an already popular politician even more so.
"He is a significant threat to President Erdogan," Cook says, adding that with a "pliable" judiciary willing to follow Erdogan\u2019s agenda and no independent press, there are few checks and balances left.
"What we're seeing right now with hundreds of thousands of Turks in the streets is really the only check on President Erdogan's power."
Earlier today, supporters of Imamoglu gathered outside Istanbul's \u00c7a\u011flayan courthouse.
The opposition candidate appeared there yesterday before being moved to a prison outside the city.
"I am incredibly scared right now," Mevl\u00fcde Karata\u015f told the Reuters news agency. "We have already seen formal arrests have started. This is oppression."
Another Imamoglu supporter, Cumali, who gave only his first name, said after recent events he felt too restless to stay at home.
"I think a lot of Turkey is this way," he said. "We are maybe living the most important days of our democracy in the last 100 years."
Turkey\u2019s main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), has named Ekrem Imamoglu as its candidate for the 2028 presidential election.
The decision follows a symbolic vote today<\/a>.
Just an hour ago, the CHP shared a photo of Imamoglu on X with the caption, "our candidate for president".
But there are still big questions for Imamoglu.
For a start, he is now in jail, having been formally arrested and charged with corruption – Imamoglu has denied the allegations and said they are politically motivated.
On top of that, after Istanbul University revoked his degree over "irregularities", he may no longer meet the requirement under Turkey's constitution for presidential candidates to have a higher education qualification.
Imamoglu's lawyers said they would appeal the decision to revoke his degree to the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights.
The Supreme Election Council will decide whether Imamoglu is qualified to be a candidate.
Nassim Hatam<\/strong>
BBC Turkish<\/span>
The leader of the main opposition CHP, Ozgur Ozel, says nearly 15 million people have voted today in a symbolic primary to choose the party\u2019s presidential candidate.
Istanbul\u2019s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, who was arrested today and sent to prison on corruption charges, was the only candidate.
Speaking at a rally in Istanbul, Ozel said about 1.6 million of these votes came from party members, while the rest were cast in solidarity.
The CHP set up two types of ballot boxes \u2013 official ones for members and additional ones for non-members wanting to show support against Imamoglu\u2019s arrest.
The BBC cannot independently verify these figures.
Ballot boxes were placed across Turkey and in several countries to help decide the party\u2019s 2028 presidential candidate. The winner still needs to be confirmed through an official process.
Ozel said the votes showed an early election was \u201cinevitable\u201d.
From prison, Imamoglu told his lawyers he was \u201cvery happy\u201d with the \u201crecord turnout\u201d and that the results showed people had said \u201cenough\u201d to Erdogan.
Cagil Kasapoglu<\/strong>
BBC World Service<\/span>
Imamoglu is known for taking off his jacket and tie at rallies
During his political campaigns, Imamoglu has been praised for his soft, humorous approach to politics, which contrasts with that of many rivals in Turkey's polarised political landscape.
Broadening the CHP's secular base, he has managed to appeal to some of Turkey's more pious, conservative voters, who had traditionally voted for the AK, by including visits to mosques in his election campaigns and recently announcing the restoration of a historic mosque in Istanbul's popular Karakoy district.
His wife Dilek Imamoglu has also become a popular figure with her active presence on social media, involvement in charity work for the disabled people and appearances alongside her husband during his campaign.
The main opposition's primary election was scheduled for today (23 March), at which Imamoglu had been expected to be chosen as its candidate for the 2028 presidential vote.
But his arrest, and the annulment of his Istanbul University degree due to alleged irregularities, has put his candidacy in doubt.
According to the Turkish constitution, presidents must have completed higher education to hold office.
As we've been reporting, thousands of people have again been taking to the streets of Turkey tonight following a fifth day of protests.
Here are some of the latest images we've seen from Istanbul:
A protester wearing a traditional whirling dervish costume gestures in front of Turkish riot police
Protesters carry flags bearing the image of Mustafa Kemal Atat\u00fcrk, the founding father of the Turkish republic, as they try to march to Taksim Square in central Istanbul
A protester holds up a sign reading "my clothes are cleaner than Erdogan" in front of a row of riot police
The moment a protester proposed to his girlfriend amid the demonstrations earlier
Tom Joyner<\/strong>
Live reporter<\/span>
In a statement posted on X's Global Government Affairs account, external<\/span><\/a>, the social media company says it objects to "multiple court orders" from Turkish authorities to block more than 700 accounts belonging to news organisations, journalists, political figures and students.
"We believe this decision from the Turkish government is not only unlawful, it hinders millions of Turkish users from news and political discourse in their country," it reads.
X says it will be challenging the block requests in court, and adds that it "will always defend freedom of speech everywhere we operate".
Ahead of Turkey's last presidential election in 2023, Human Rights Watch warned, external<\/span><\/a> social media platforms that reject government demands could face hefty fines or bandwidth restrictions "that would render their platforms effectively unusable in Turkey".
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has led Turkey for more than 20 years, reshaping his country more than any leader since Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the revered father of the modern republic.
He was prime minister from 2003 to 2014 before becoming president in what was then a largely ceremonial role.
A 2017 referendum gave him sweeping presidential powers, including the right to impose a state of emergency, appoint top public officials and intervene in the legal system.
Supporters credit him with driving economic growth, expanding the middle class and lifting millions out of poverty during his three terms as prime minister.
However, critics say the leader is undermining the country's secular democratic principles and supporting Islamist causes \u2013 something Erdogan denies.
Voters crowd around a man casting a ballot in Istanbul
Imamoglu has shared a message from prison through his lawyers saying he's "very happy" about the "record turnout" in today's opposition primaries.
"I would like to share with you some news from Silivri Prison that makes me very happy," a post from his account on social media platform X, published just before 10pm local time, external<\/span><\/a> (1900 GMT), says.
The message says tens of millions of Turks "who are suffering from the oppression of the government, the ruined economy, incompetence and lawlessness" have voted in the party's primary ballot.
The poll was held today to choose a candidate to run for the Republican People's Party (CHP) against President Erdogan in the 2028 presidential election.
That ballot box will come and the people will give this government an unforgettable slap in the face."
Ekrem Imamoglu<\/b>
Tom Joyner<\/strong>
Live reporter<\/span>
Today would have likely been the day Imamoglu was selected as his party's opposition candidate to run against President Erdogan in 2028.
Instead, he's in pre-trial detention on charges of corruption which he denies.
A primary ballot was held today across Turkey, with more than 1.5 million members of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) urged to vote in solidarity with the arrested mayor.
Ballot boxes were present in districts all over Turkey for people to show their support for the detained mayor.
The party urged even non-members to endorse Imamoglu, in order to help boost public resistance to his arrest and detention.
Ekrem Imamoglu has been suspended from his post as Istanbul's mayor, Turkey's interior ministry says.
He was elected as mayor in 2019, before being re-elected in 2024, in what was widely seen to be a stunning defeat of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party. The president's term is due to run out in 2029.
On Tuesday, Istanbul University announced on Tuesday it was revoking Imamoglu's degree due to alleged irregularities.
If upheld, this would put his ability to run as president into doubt, since the Turkish constitution says presidents must have completed higher education to hold office.
People walking past the main entrance to Istanbul University
We've just been seeing some footage from Istanbul showing tonight's demonstrations in Turkey.
Riot police appear to be using pepper spray against protesters. Thousands of people have been taking to the city's streets.
This video can not be played
Watch: Police uses pepper spray on protesters in Turkey
Despite the demonstrations across Turkey being largely peaceful, riot police have repeatedly clashed with protesters and have been seen firing pepper gas and water cannons towards them.
Here are some memorable images from the past few days:
Massive demonstrations have been taking place across Turkey since Wednesday
Police reportedly fired tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrators
Authorities had tried to stifle the street demonstrations with a several-day ban on all gatherings in Istanbul
Turkish authorities said 343 people were arrested on Friday night
Protests are continuing on Sunday night after the jailing of Ekrem Imamoglu
Cagil Kasapoglu<\/strong>
BBC World Service<\/span>
Ekrem Imamoglu, the Turkish presidential hopeful detained on charges including corruption and aiding a terrorist group, is one of the country's most popular politicians.
A leading figure in the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and mayor of Istanbul, the 54-year-old has long been seen as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most formidable rival.
He stunned Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK) when he retained control over Istanbul in last year's municipality elections, winning a second successive mandate in Turkey's largest city.
Many political commentators in Turkey have referred to this as "Erdogan's worst defeat ever".
But Imamoglu's arrest, which came days before he was due to be selected as a candidate<\/a>, prompted the CHP to warn of a "coup attempt against the next president".
\"\"<\/span><\/span>Jack Burgess<\/strong>
Live page editor<\/span>
Welcome to the BBC\u2019s live coverage following the massive demonstrations taking place in Turkey<\/b>.
Protesters have been gathering for a fifth day since Istanbul\u2019s Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu<\/b> was detained on Wednesday on charges of corruption and aiding terrorist groups.
Imamoglu is a key opposition figure and his detention came days before he was due to be announced as a candidate for the 2028 presidential election.
On Sunday he was formerly arrested and charged with corruption. He has denied the allegations and said they are politically motivated.
"I will never bow," he wrote on X before he was remanded in custody.
Turkey\u2019s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan<\/b> has condemned the protests and accused the Republican People\u2019s Party (CHP of trying to "disturb the peace and polarise our people".
We\u2019ll bring you the latest developments from Turkey right here.
Copyright \u00a9 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.<\/a><\/p>\n

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