Türkiye’s Opposition Leader Visits Jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu
The head of Türkiye’s main opposition party visited jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Tuesday after six nights of massive protests calling for his release.
Imamoglu, arrested on March 19 on corruption charges, is seen as the main challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s 22-year rule. His arrest has been widely viewed as politically motivated and sparked demonstrations, some turning violent, across the country. The government insists Türkiye’s judiciary is independent and free of political influence.
Ozgur Ozel, the leader of Imamoglu’s Republican People’s Party, or CHP, arrived at Silivri prison, west of Istanbul, in a convoy of vehicles Tuesday morning. He is expected to brief the media on the condition of the mayor, who spent his second night in jail.
Ozel announced the night before that Tuesday evening would be CHP’s final rally outside Istanbul’s City Hall, calling for people to join in. He also said the party would appoint a member to the municipal council to act as mayor in Imamoglu’s place, staving off the possibility of a state-appointed one.
Meanwhile, Turkish authorities have been cracking down on journalists as protests grew.
The Media and Law Studies Association, a civil society group, said eight journalists who were detained “for covering protests in Istanbul,” banned by authorities, had been brought to the city’s Caglayan Courthouse. They are accused of “violating the law on meetings and demonstrations,” the group said.
