ISTANBUL (AP) 鈥 A media union said Turkish authorities arrested several journalists at their homes in a crackdown Monday, amid growing protests over the jailing of Istanbul鈥檚 mayor, a top rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
A court on Sunday formally arrested Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and ordered him jailed pending a trial on corruption charges. His detention on Wednesday in Turkey in more than a decade, deepening concerns over democracy and the rule of law.
The Disk-Basin-Is media workers' union said at least eight reporters and photojournalists were detained in what it called an 鈥渁ttack on press freedoms and the people鈥檚 right to learn the truth.鈥 It called for their immediate release.
The social media platform X said it was objecting to multiple court orders from Turkish authorities to block more than 700 accounts, including of news organizations, journalists and political figures in Turkey.
Hundreds of protesters detained
A total of 1,133 people have been detained since the mayor was arrested at his home, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said. As many as 123 police officers were injured in the protests, he said, adding that materials such as acid, firebombs and knives were seized.
鈥淪ome circles have been exploiting the right to assemble and demonstrate, attempting to disrupt public order, incite street unrest and attack our police,鈥 Yerlikaya said on social media.
The minister said some of the detained were identified as having ties to groups listed as terrorist organizations and others had criminal records.
Hundreds of thousands of people have come out for the largely peaceful protests across Turkey in support of the mayor. There has been some violence, with police deploying water cannons, tear gas and pepper spray and firing plastic pellets at protesters in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. Some protesters hurled stones, fireworks and other objects at riot police.
Mayor urges more rallies
In a message on social media, Imamoglu urged people to rally outside city hall and other locations for a sixth night on Monday. He also called on youths to avoid clashes and asked police to treat demonstrators with kindness.
鈥淚鈥檓 working hard, I will work even harder. Where I am does not matter,鈥 he said.
The mayor鈥檚 jailing is widely regarded as a political move to remove from the next presidential race, scheduled for 2028. Government officials reject the accusations and insist that Turkey鈥檚 courts operate independently.
Imamoglu was jailed on suspicion of running a criminal organization, accepting bribes, extortion, illegally recording personal data and bid-rigging 鈥 accusations he has denied. A request for him to be imprisoned on terror-related charges was rejected although he still faces prosecution.
The Interior Ministry later said Imamoglu had been suspended from duty as a 鈥渢emporary measure.鈥 The municipality previously appointed an acting mayor from its governing council.
Erdogan says opposition to be held to account for protests
In a televised address following a Cabinet meeting, Erdogan accused the opposition party's chairman Ozgur Ozel, who has called for peaceful protests, of disturbing public order instead of addressing the alleged corruption. He also said he would be held to account for the protests.
鈥淚 have made this call several times before, and today I am repeating it: Stop disturbing our citizens鈥 peace with provocations. If you have the courage, account for the corruption, theft, bribes taken, and irregularities committed,鈥 Erdogan said.
Erdogan said: 鈥渙f course, there will be political accountability for these actions in parliament and legal accountability in court.鈥
Addressing demonstrators outside city hall for a sixth consecutive night, Ozel urged supporters to boycott a number of pro-government companies and television stations. He also challenged Erdogan and the Istanbul chief public prosecutor to broadcast Imamoglu鈥檚 trial live on state television, to allow the jailed mayor to respond to the allegations and "expose their lies.鈥
About 15 minutes after Ozel addressed the crowd, police intervened with tear gas and plastic pellets to disperse the demonstrators.
Imamoglu was taken to Silivri prison, west of Istanbul, as more than 1.7 million members of his opposition Republican People鈥檚 Party, or CHP, held a primary election, endorsing him as its presidential candidate. Millions of non-members also cast votes in a 鈥渟olidarity ballot,鈥 the party said.
Alongside Imamoglu, 47 other people were also jailed pending trial, including a key aide and two district mayors from Istanbul. One was replaced with a government appointee. A further 44 suspects were released under judicial control.
Standoff between protesters and police
Thousands of protesters rallied outside Istanbul鈥檚 city hall to voice anger over what they see as a crackdown on democratic freedoms. Tensions remained high as police fired rubber bullets and tear gas minutes after opposition leader Ozel鈥檚 daily address concluded.
Protesters, many young and masked to avoid identification, hurled harsh words to the police and Erdogan and booed those in their ranks who threw bottles and flares at security forces to avoid elevated violence akin to Sunday's police interventions.
鈥淚 think it can鈥檛 get any worse than this,鈥 said one female demonstrator who did not want to be named due to fear of detention. 鈥淲e will never accept this. If necessary, I will come every day.鈥
Others echoed her sentiment. 鈥淭here is a coup against our democracy right now,鈥 said an older male protester who also wished to remain anonymous. 鈥淲e are here for our children, for the youth. We want them to be free so this country can be more beautiful.鈥
Several protesters said their aim was not to support specific politicians but to stand up for the Turkish Republic.
鈥淚 would like to say my name, but I cannot,鈥 one man said. 鈥淭he reason I came here is not Ozel or Imamoglu. I came here to defend my own rights as the youth of Ataturk (founder of the Turkish Republic).
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said 43 protesters were detained Monday, and condemned what he called 鈥渧ile insults鈥 toward Erdogan and his late mother, vowing not to tolerate 鈥渟uch indecency.鈥
Ali Mahir Basarir, a legislator from the main opposition Republican People鈥檚 Party, told the AP that the authorities used 鈥減re-determined provocateurs鈥 to justify crackdowns.
鈥淭hey start attacking the protesters before the rally is over,鈥 he said. 鈥淎ll they want is a good future. They are exercising their constitutional rights.鈥 and urged the police to not mistreat protesters.
Ankara municipality also under scrutiny
Meanwhile, authorities were investigating the office of Ankara's mayor, another popular opposition figure, over the alleged misuse of public funds concerning the organization of 33 concerts, the municipality said Monday.
Imamoglu was elected mayor of Turkey鈥檚 largest city in March 2019, in a major blow to Erdogan and the president鈥檚 Justice and Development Party, which had controlled Istanbul for a quarter-century. Erdogan鈥檚 party pushed to void the municipal election results in the city of 16 million, alleging irregularities.
The challenge resulted in a repeat of the election a few months later, which Imamoglu also won. The mayor retained his seat following local elections last year, during which the CHP made significant gains against Erdogan鈥檚 governing party.
