Capitals: Europe and the Arab World
European circles continue to monitor developments in Turkey, and the European Green Party condemned what it described as an escalation of the Erdoğan government's crackdown, with the number of arrests of opposition members, protesters, and journalists exceeding 1,000. According to a statement from the party's group in the European Parliament distributed to journalists last night in Brussels, the statement read: "The Journalists' Union of Turkey reported the arrest of several journalists who covered the protests at dawn on Monday."
Kiaran Kov, co-chair of the European Green Party, stated: "The European Union must take a firm stand against Erdoğan's brutal crackdown on peaceful protests. It is time to end political persecution, police violence, and the widespread suppression of press freedom. We call on EU Commission Vice-President Kaya Kallas to contact President Erdoğan and demand the release of all those unlawfully detained."
Vola Tsitsi, co-chair of the European Green Party, added: "Since the arrest of İmamoğlu, the situation in Turkey has deteriorated." These blatant attacks on democracy, civil liberties, and the rule of law cannot be left unanswered. The European Union must stand firmly against this authoritarianism and take swift and appropriate action. We stand in full solidarity with those fighting for democracy and human rights in Turkey.
The statement concluded, "The arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul and a prominent opposition figure, has sparked mass protests across the country. Despite their overwhelmingly peaceful nature, they have been met with police violence, along with mass arrests of more than 1,000 opposition politicians, lawyers, students, and journalists.
This came as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described protesters against the imprisonment of opposition politician and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu as "street terrorists," describing the largely peaceful protests as violent.
He added that the "street terrorists" are targeting police forces with stones, sticks, acid, and axes. He continued, stating that these actions have not drawn condemnation from the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), led by İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul. The Turkish leader added that the opposition party will face legal accountability for these actions before the judiciary. According to the European news network in Brussels, Euronews,
The United Nations calls for respect for freedom of the press and demonstration in Turkey
In the same context, UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric confirmed that the organization is closely monitoring developments in Turkey, particularly regarding the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and the mass detention of journalists.
This came during the daily press conference held at UN headquarters in New York. Dujarric stressed the importance of ensuring freedom of the press, saying: "It is essential that journalists be able to carry out their work freely without fear of harassment or arrest, whether in Turkey or elsewhere around the world."
He also emphasized the right of citizens to peacefully demonstrate, adding that the authorities must ensure that individual rights are not subject to any violations.
He added: "We hope that due process is fully followed," expressing the UN's concern about these developments and their potential impact on democracy and human rights. Protests Continue in Turkey
Tens of thousands of Turkish opposition supporters held a mass demonstration in front of the Istanbul Municipality building on Monday evening, expressing their support for Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was arrested and imprisoned by court order.
The demonstrators carried Turkish flags and banners supporting İmamoğlu, chanting slogans denouncing the court decision. Clashes erupted between protesters and police forces in the area.
These protests follow a court ruling on Sunday ordering İmamoğlu's arrest and detention pending investigation on corruption charges. Authorities arrested him on Wednesday, March 19, sparking widespread anger and prompting thousands to take to the streets in the largest demonstrations Turkey has seen in more than a decade.
These developments are seen as a dangerous escalation that raises questions about the future of democracy and the rule of law in the country. Journalists Arrested
The Media Workers' Union announced on Monday that Turkish authorities had detained a number of journalists, describing these actions as "an attack on press freedoms and the people's right to know the truth," amid escalating protests sparked by the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul, one of Erdogan's most prominent rivals.
The DISK-BASIN-IS union said that at least eight reporters and photojournalists had been detained in recent days, asserting that these actions constituted part of a crackdown on press freedom. The union called for the immediate release of all detained journalists.