Istanbul - Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
In an attempt to prevent protests, Turkish authorities closed several roads, imposed restrictions on some social media platforms, and imposed a four-day ban on demonstrations.
However, despite the ban, many gathered outside the Istanbul police headquarters, the city council, and outside the headquarters of Imamoglu's Republican People's Party (CHP).
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Istanbul last night to protest the arrest of the city's opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, the main opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. According to the Euronews website in Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed deep concern over Imamoglu's arrest and reminded Turkey of its commitment to upholding democratic values.
"Turkey is a candidate country for EU accession, and Ankara must uphold democratic values, especially the rights of elected officials," von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels.
She added: "We want Turkey to remain firmly rooted in Europe, but this requires a clear commitment to democratic standards and practices, and it is important that Türkiye respects these fundamental principles." Turkish authorities have arrested 100 people, including the mayor of Istanbul and several other prominent figures.
İmamoğlu is considered the leader of the popular opposition and the most important rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Authorities accuse him and his aides of involvement in corruption cases, including extortion and fraud, as well as aiding the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a banned group designated a terrorist organization by Ankara, Washington, and other Turkish allies.
İmamoğlu's arrest comes amid a widespread crackdown on opposition figures, which has been criticized as a politically motivated attempt to silence dissent.
A day earlier, Istanbul University revoked the mayor's bachelor's degree, a prerequisite for running for office under Turkish law.