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Turkish constabulary capsicum spray protesters successful Istanbul
Police officers seen capsicum spraying protesters arsenic radical gathered successful enactment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu adjacent the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality building, successful Istanbul, Turkey, March 23, 2025. (Credit: Reuters)
A Turkish tribunal connected Sunday jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan's main governmental rival, pending proceedings connected corruption charges, successful a determination apt to inflame the country's biggest protests successful much than a decade.
The determination to nonstop Imamoglu to jailhouse comes aft the main absorption party, European leaders and tens of thousands of protesters criticized the actions against him arsenic politicized and undemocratic.
As the courtroom developments unfolded, determination were signs that the mayor's troubles were galvanizing absorption against Erdogan's government, which has tally Turkey for 22 years.
Thousands of Republican People's Party (CHP) members and non-members streamed into polling stations nationwide to elite Imamoglu its campaigner successful a aboriginal statesmanlike vote.
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The non-member ballot volition beryllium intimately watched arsenic an indicator of however overmuch enactment the wide fashionable Imamoglu enjoys beyond the enactment faithful.
Imamoglu has denied the charges helium faces arsenic "unimaginable accusations and slanders" and called for nationwide protests connected Sunday. "We volition rip distant this coup, this acheronian stain connected our democracy, each together," helium said.
Footage showed what broadcasters said was him being taken to Silivri situation successful a constabulary convoy.
Imamoglu was removed from duty, on with 2 different territory mayors, an interior ministry connection said.
A protestor holds a placard that reads ''From precocious schools to the streets'', successful beforehand of constabulary officers, during a protestation connected the time Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was jailed arsenic portion of a corruption investigation, successful Istanbul, Turkey, March 23, 2025. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (REUTERS/Umit Bektas)
The authorities denies that investigations are politically motivated and says courts are independent.
A nationwide prohibition connected thoroughfare gatherings was extended connected Saturday for 4 much days but protests and skirmishes with constabulary continued done the nighttime successful large cities.
Thousands crowded extracurricular the courthouse overnight and aboriginal connected Sunday awaiting the rulings connected Imamoglu.
The tribunal said Imamoglu, 54, and astatine slightest 20 others were jailed arsenic portion of a corruption investigation, 1 of 2 opened against him past week.
It said helium was arrested for "establishing and starring a transgression organization, accepting bribes, embezzlement, unlawfully signaling idiosyncratic data, and rigging nationalist tenders successful transportation with a fiscal investigation".
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The jailing caps a months-long ineligible crackdown connected absorption figures and the removal of different elected officials from office, successful what critics called a authorities effort to wounded their predetermination prospects.
Six of the CHP's 27 municipal mayors are present nether apprehension - a twelvemonth aft absorption parties handed Erdogan's AK Party its worst ever electoral decision successful municipal elections.
The CHP opened enactment polling stations Sunday to non-members to formed "solidarity votes" for Imamoglu, who was the lone sanction connected the ballot for statesmanlike candidate.
A demonstrator wearing dervish clothes, lies connected the ground, during a protestation connected the time Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was jailed arsenic portion of a corruption investigation, successful Istanbul, Turkey, March 23, 2025. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis (REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis)
CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel predicted millions of votes from non-members, saying Imamoglu is "on the roadworthy to situation but besides to the presidency".
No wide predetermination is scheduled until 2028.
But if Erdogan, 71, who has led Turkey for 22 years, is to tally again, parliament would request to backmost an earlier predetermination since the president volition person reached his bounds by that date. Imamoglu is starring Erdogan successful immoderate sentiment polls.
Imamoglu is besides facing coercion charges, but the tribunal did not formally apprehension him connected those astatine the aforesaid time.
A aboriginal ruling to jailhouse him pending proceedings connected terrorism-related charges could let the authorities to name a trustee to tally Istanbul. A condemnation could forestall him moving for president.
The CHP said it would entreaty against the ruling and elite idiosyncratic to enactment arsenic acting mayor.
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Shortly aft the tribunal ruling, the politician vowed to yet decision Erdogan, and said those who ran the probe would beryllium held accountable.
"Imamoglu has go Erdogan's ... nightmare," Mehmet Karatas, an absorption supporter, said extracurricular the courthouse. "We volition marque Ekrem Imamoglu president."
Imamoglu's detention has roiled markets, with the Turkish lira, stocks and bonds suffering dense declines since Wednesday. Analysts expect much selling unit aft the jailing.
Turkish cardinal slope politician Fatih Karahan met committee members of Turkey's Banks Association (TBB) connected Sunday.
Police officers usage capsicum spray connected demonstrators during a protestation connected the time Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was jailed arsenic portion of a corruption investigation, successful Istanbul, Turkey, March 23, 2025. REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis (REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis)
The cardinal slope volition usage each instruments wrong marketplace rules efficaciously and decisively to support stability, Karahan told bankers, the TBB said.
Civil disobedience has been dramatically curbed successful Turkey since nationwide Gezi Park protests against Erdogan's authorities successful 2013, which prompted a convulsive authorities crackdown.
Yet thousands gathered again Saturday nighttime extracurricular the Istanbul municipality gathering and the main courthouse. Hundreds of constabulary utilized teardrop state and capsicum spray to disperse protesters, arsenic the assemblage hurled firecrackers and different objects.
Though astir demonstrations person been peaceful, protesters besides clashed with constabulary successful the occidental coastal state of Izmir and the superior Ankara for a 3rd nighttime successful a row, with constabulary firing h2o cannon.
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Authorities person detained much than 300 radical during protests.
Additional reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever, Mert Ozkan and Mehmet Emin Caliskan; Writing by Jonathan Spicer; Editing by Daniel Wallis, William Mallard, David Goodman, Alison Williams and Giles Elgood
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