ISTANBUL: Turki said on Thursday that it dismissed “prejudiced” international statements on the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and nationwide protests triggered it by it, as the authorities participated in the demonstrations about 1,900 people.
Imamoglu, the largest political rival of President Tayyip Erdogan, who takes him to some elections, was jailed for a pending test for Graft on Sunday. His arrest inspired the anti -government protests in a decade and largely arrests across the country.
Imamoglu’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), other opposition parties, rights groups and western powers have all said that the case against the mayor – the case was dismissed by his job due to the case – was a political effort to end the possible electoral threat for Erdogan.
The government denies any impact on the judiciary and says that the courts are independent.
Speaking to international media representatives in Istanbul, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tank said that Ankara had asked his European colleagues to act with “general knowledge”, requiring his arrest, adding the seriousness of the allegations against Imamoglu.
The tank said through a translator, “We don’t want any politician arrest, but if there is a proof of a violation, it can happen.”
He said, “If we look at the gravity of the allegations, and as the risk is that the evidence can be hidden, the judiciary has taken a reasonable decision,” he said.
The CHP has asked the Turks to continue protests, stating that it will organize rallies and ceremonies at various places in Istanbul and other places. Erdogan has dismissed protests as “shows” and warned of legal consequences for protesters.
Internal Minister Ali Yralikaya said that 1,879 people were detained since the protests last Wednesday, stating that the courts had pending 260 to trial.
He said that 489 were issued and 662 others were still being processed, while 150 police officers were injured.
The rights groups have asked the Turkas to investigate what they said to be excessive use of force by the police while spreading the crowd, and urged the government to allow demonstrations, which have been largely peaceful. Western leaders have said that the case has marked democratic backsliding.
Asked about the time of Imamoglu’s arrest, which took place in the next elections as the CHP presidential candidate in the days before his announcement-Set for 2028 sets-and after a month’s long legal action against the opposition, the tank said that the judiciary only saw criminal reports.
The minister said that being an elected officer did not mean.
He also said that Erdogan was not being informed about the case against Imamoglu due to the confidentiality of the case, although the President has made several comments to accuse the CHP and its municipalities on corruption.
A day before Imamoglu was detained last week, a university canceled its diploma – a eligibility for candidates in the presidential elections.
When asked about the arrest of seven local journalists covering and later release, a photo journalist including a photo journalist covering demonstrations in Istanbul Egnes France Press (AFP)The tank said that there was a misconception about the treatment of Turkish journalists and that it was not a prison to reporters.
Reporter without Borders, a free speech advocate, finished 158th in 180 countries in his 2024 Press Freedom Index.
It said that some 90% of the media were subject to government influence, inspired the Turks to turn to the opposition or independent news outlets. The tank said the index did not reflect the truth.
