The Republican People’s Party of Turkey (CHP) announced that it will hold mass demonstrations in 14 cities and 21 provinces starting Friday at 8:30 p.m. in response to the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
In a press release, the CHP stated that it emphasized that all rallies aim to protect the will of the people and support democracy.
The cities where the rallies will be held are Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Aydin, Balikesir, Bursa, Denizli, Eskisehir, Istanbul, Izmir, Manisa, Mersin, Mugla, Tekirdag.
In other news, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel gave a speech in Istanbul yesterday where he addressed the citizens regarding the mayor’s arrest.
“Do you see Erdogan? Istanbul is speaking. You are speaking. You are speaking to those who do not recognize your will, who value your vote highly when it is given to them, but who ignore that will when you give it to someone else. Do you hear Erdogan, do you see Erdogan?” he said.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu addressed the court from his detention center and sent a message to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
In his address on X, Imamoglu said that his honor and dignity were being violated and that his children’s future was being usurped.
“You are doing all this with a few unqualified people. Everyone who is in this business is dirty. I told my people and warned them. This mind that took away my degree will violate your property, your honor and your assets and commit all kinds of usurpations and attacks. As a nation, we must stand against this evil. This is my call to the nation,” he said.
He added that he had a call for prosecutors and judges who are honorable and have a passion to serve the nation.
“You must stand up and take action against this handful of colleagues who have ruined the Turkish judiciary, embarrassed us to the world and ruined our reputation. I trust the Supreme Turkish Judiciary. You cannot and should not remain silent. Finally, I call on all politicians serving in the AK Party and those in the ruling alliance. These events have transcended our parties and political ideals. The process now concerns our nation, especially your families. The time has come to raise our voices,” he stressed.
He concluded that sovereignty belongs to the nation unconditionally and without limits.
Six police officers were injured during the protests in Istanbul, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.
Protests in support of detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu were held in Ankara and Istanbul yesterday.
The leader of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party, Ozgur Ozel, has repeatedly called on police and city authorities to stop using pepper spray against protesters in Istanbul.
Yerlikaya wrote on the X platform that “police officers, who guarantee peace and security, are wisely facing provocations.”
“They do this with patience and common sense and show an exemplary attitude about how to behave in such situations,” Yerlikaya said.
Security measures have been tightened on many central streets in Istanbul, as well as in front of police headquarters.
As a reminder, Imamoglu and several other individuals are charged with organized crime in connection with extortion, bribery, serious fraud, illegal acquisition of personal data and tender rigging.
Photo: Platform X/Niko Efstathiou
