Continued Protests in Turkey; Erdogan Claims Protests Have Turned into a 'Violent Movement'

Public protests against the arrest of Istanbul's mayor continued for the sixth consecutive night in many major cities in Turkey on Monday, April 4, despite a ban on street gatherings. The Turkish Interior Minister stated that at least 1,133 people have been arrested across the country during these protests, and the President of Turkey has threatened the main opposition party with political and legal action if the protests continue. However, the leader of the main opposition party (Republican People's Party) has once again called for the continuation of nationwide protests while 'maintaining public order and avoiding conflict.' Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Monday that these protests have turned into a 'violent movement' and that the main opposition party must be held accountable for the injuries to police forces and damage to public property. Ali Yerlikaya, the Turkish Interior Minister, also announced that 123 police officers have been injured during these protests and warned that the government will not allow 'fear and terror in the streets' to continue. Ekrem İmamoğlu, the 54-year-old mayor of Istanbul, was arrested last Wednesday along with dozens of others, including politicians, journalists, and entrepreneurs, as part of an investigation into financial corruption. İmamoğlu has been accused of 'forming and managing a criminal organization, receiving bribes, and extortion,' but he has denied all these allegations. Ozgur Ozel, the leader of the Republican People's Party, called the accusations against İmamoğlu 'baseless, unfounded, and unsubstantiated' during a rally of hundreds of thousands in front of the Istanbul Municipality building, stating: 'This square defends anyone unjustly imprisoned by Recep Tayyip Erdogan; for democracy and for Turkey.' He also announced that his party will demand İmamoğlu's release until the trial and will request that the trial sessions be broadcast live on the state TRT network. Moments after Ozel's speech, police, as in previous nights, dispersed protesters using rubber bullets, tear gas, and water cannons, arresting several individuals. In Ankara, protesters stood in front of water cannon trucks, demanding a peaceful march. In response to these protests, Erdogan stated on Monday after a cabinet meeting in Ankara that the main opposition party must stop 'inciting the people.' He also added, 'We have witnessed with astonishment events that turned into a violent movement following the opposition leader's call to take to the streets and after the anti-corruption operation in Istanbul.' Erdogan also identified this party as responsible for the injuries to police and damage to public property, threatening that 'they must be held accountable both politically in parliament and legally in court.' The mayor of Istanbul has been introduced as the opposition's candidate for the presidency. The mayor, a member of the Republican People's Party and a key figure opposing Erdogan's ruling coalition, wrote on social media X before his arrest: 'I will never surrender.' The Turkish Interior Ministry announced on Sunday that following İmamoğlu's official arrest on corruption charges, he has been temporarily removed from his position. Two district mayors of Istanbul who were arrested simultaneously with Ekrem İmamoğlu have also been dismissed from their positions. On the same day, however, the Turkish opposition party, the Republican People's Party, chose the mayor of Istanbul as its candidate for the presidential election. In the preliminary elections of the Republican People's Party to introduce the presidential candidate, about 15 million votes were cast in support of him. İmamoğlu's arrest is seen as a political move to eliminate him from the presidential election race. However, the government insists that the country's courts operate independently. His arrest and that of others have intensified political tensions in Turkey and triggered widespread protests in at least 55 provinces across the country. Some polls indicate that İmamoğlu is more popular than Erdogan. After two presidential terms, during which he was also the country's prime minister, Erdogan has reached a legal limit for re-election. If he wants to run again, he must either hold early elections or change the constitution.