Turkey protests rage on as 1,100+ detained, 8 journalists jailed | In Pics

For a fifth consecutive night, massive crowds gathered outside Istanbul’s City Hall, rallying against the jailing of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in what critics call a politically motivated case. Standing before the sea of demonstrators, Imamoglu’s wife, Dilek Kaya Imamoglu, delivered a defiant message to Turkish authorities. “He will defeat you! … You will lose!” she declared from the platform, as thousands of protesters roared in support. (Image: Reuters)

“The injustice Ekrem faced… it struck a chord with every conscience,” she added, linking the mayor’s arrest to broader grievances among the Turkish people. (Image: Reuters)

Demonstrations erupted across Turkey last Wednesday when Imamoglu was arrested in a dramatic pre-dawn raid involving hundreds of police officers. That evening, his supporters gathered at Istanbul University to denounce what they called an assault on democracy. Since then, unrest has spread far beyond Istanbul, with mass rallies gripping cities across the country. (Image: Reuters)

According to an AFP tally, protests have taken place in at least 55 of Turkey’s 81 provinces—more than two-thirds of the country. The scale of demonstrations has drawn comparisons to the 2013 Gezi Park protests, Turkey’s largest anti-government movement in the past decade. (Image: Reuters)

Since March 19—when Imamoglu was detained—authorities have arrested 1,133 people, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed. He alleged that some detainees had ties to terrorist organizations, while others had prior criminal records. (Image: Reuters)

Yerlikaya also claimed that demonstrators used dangerous materials, including acid, firebombs, and knives, injuring 123 police officers. “Some circles have been exploiting the right to assemble and demonstrate, attempting to disrupt public order, incite street unrest, and attack our police,” he said. (Image: Reuters)

However, opposition leaders, human rights groups, and analysts argue the crackdown is a pretext to silence critics. Many view Imamoglu’s imprisonment as a strategic move to sideline a formidable challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the 2028 elections. (Image: Reuters)

Imamoglu faces charges of corruption, bribery, and leading a criminal organisation. The case also links him to an electoral agreement between his opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and a pro-Kurdish party that the government associates with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). (Image: Reuters)

According to AFP, the court’s pretrial detention order accuses Imamoglu of “establishing and leading a criminal organisation; accepting bribes; corruption; illegally recording personal data; and rigging tenders.” While prosecutors initially cited “a strong suspicion of guilt” regarding terror-related charges, they chose to focus on financial crimes for immediate detention. (Image: Reuters)

Shortly after his arrest, the Turkish Interior Ministry suspended Imamoglu from office and stripped him of his mayoral title. He was swiftly transferred to Silivri prison, a high-security facility on Istanbul’s outskirts. His removal from office has fuelled speculation that the case is politically motivated, aiming to eliminate Erdogan’s most credible rival. (Image: Reuters)

Despite the crackdown, opposition leaders have been mobilising. On Sunday, the CHP proceeded with its long-planned primary election, officially naming Imamoglu as its 2028 presidential candidate. In a bold move, the party expanded voting beyond its 1.7 million members, allowing the public to participate. According to the CHP, 15 million people cast ballots for Imamoglu, with 13.2 million votes coming from non-members in what they described as a “solidarity vote.” (Image: Reuters)

CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel also called for a boycott of businesses and television networks aligned with the government. “We are taking note of every television channel that ignores this moment,” Ozel declared at a mass rally. “Whoever buys their products is complicit.” (Image: Reuters)

With the government controlling most mainstream media, opposition voices have struggled to reach the public. Turkish broadcasting watchdog RTUK has threatened to revoke licenses of TV stations airing live protest coverage, while independent networks have faced mounting pressure. (Image: Reuters)

Social media has also come under fire. X (formerly Twitter) confirmed that Turkish authorities ordered the platform to shut down more than 700 accounts linked to the demonstrations, despite the company objecting to the court rulings. (Image: Reuters)

According to Reporters Without Borders, Turkey ranks 158th out of 180 countries in press freedom, with approximately 90% of media outlets under government influence. (Image: Reuters)

As protests continue to spread, analysts suggest that the unrest has evolved beyond Imamoglu’s arrest. The anger on the streets now reflects deeper frustrations over democratic backsliding, press suppression, and economic struggles. (Image: Reuters)