For the fourth consecutive night, thousands gathered outside Istanbul City Hall on Saturday. They protested against the arrest of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who called the charges “immoral and baseless.”

Protests Rapidly Spread Across Turkey

Initially, the demonstrations started in Istanbul on Wednesday. However, they have now expanded to over 55 of Turkey’s 81 provinces. As a result, the country is witnessing its most intense street protests in over a decade.

Related News

Authorities arrested Imamoglu on charges of “terrorism” and “corruption.” Notably, his arrest came just days before he was set to be officially nominated as the opposition CHP’s candidate for the 2028 presidential election.

Police Crack Down on Protesters

Meanwhile, the protests in Istanbul intensified. Many demonstrators held signs that read “Dictators are cowards!” and “AKP, you will not silence us!” Compared to previous nights, the crowd on Saturday was significantly larger.

Shortly after midnight (2100 GMT), police moved in to disperse the protesters. They used tear gas, forcing many to seek shelter inside City Hall. Additionally, officers arrested several people, though authorities have not released official figures yet.

Earlier, riot police had already fired rubber bullets, pepper spray, and percussion grenades to control the growing unrest.

Unrest Reaches Other Major Cities

At the same time, protests erupted in other parts of the country. In Ankara, riot police used water cannons to push back demonstrators. Likewise, in Izmir, officers blocked a student-led march heading toward local AKP offices.

CHP Leader Pledges to Defend Imamoglu

Addressing the massive crowd in Istanbul, CHP leader Ozgur Ozel declared that over “half a million” people had gathered. Furthermore, he vowed to “defend” Imamoglu and lead a march to the courthouse.

As the situation escalated, police transported Imamoglu and 90 co-defendants to a courthouse located 10 kilometers (six miles) from City Hall. To ensure security, dozens of riot vans and heavily armed officers escorted them.

According to his lawyers, the “terrorism” hearing concluded, while the “corruption” trial was scheduled to take place later that night. Meanwhile, about 1,000 protesters gathered outside the courthouse, chanting slogans.

Financial Markets React Negatively

Earlier in the day, Imamoglu released a statement from City Hall. He strongly criticized the charges, arguing that they had damaged “Turkey’s international reputation” and eroded public trust in both the justice system and the economy.

Unsurprisingly, his arrest triggered panic in financial markets. The Turkish lira weakened, and the benchmark BIST 100 index closed nearly 8% lower on Friday.

Public Anger Grows Over Arrest

As protests continued, many citizens expressed their frustration. Outside the courthouse, 30-year-old Aykut Cenk held a Turkish flag and voiced his support. “We are here today to stand up for the candidate we voted for,” he said.

Drawing parallels to past events, he added, “Just as people took the streets to stand up for Erdogan after the July 15 coup, we are now taking to the streets for Imamoglu.”

At the same time, he clarified, “We are not the enemy of the state, but what is happening is unlawful.”

Government Vows to Crush Protests

Despite a nationwide protest ban, demonstrations continued to spread. In response, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a stern warning. He insisted that authorities would not allow “street terror.”

“For four days, they have been doing everything they can to disturb the peace and divide our people,” he said. “The days when politics and justice are guided by street terror are totally in the past.”

Additionally, Istanbul Governor Davut Gul announced strict security measures. He stated that authorities would stop individuals from entering or leaving the city if they were suspected of joining illegal activities.

Since the protests began, police have arrested 343 people, according to the interior ministry.

Journalists Face Police Violence

Meanwhile, Turkey’s Journalists Union accused the police of “deliberately targeting” reporters. The union reported that many journalists were “severely beaten, shot with rubber bullets, and had equipment broken.”

Similarly, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the violent crackdown. It described the police action as “heavy-handed and completely arbitrary.” Furthermore, RSF demanded that those responsible be “severely punished.”

CHP Moves Forward With Imamoglu’s Nomination

Despite Imamoglu’s detention, CHP remains determined to push forward. On Sunday, the party will hold its primary and formally nominate him as its presidential candidate.

Unlike traditional party primaries, CHP will open the voting to the public, hoping to rally mass support for Imamoglu. However, political observers warn that the government may try to block the vote.