Turmoil In Turkey: Over 1,000 Detained After Istanbul Mayor's Arrest

More than a thousand people have been detained during protests following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Monday.

In a post on X, Yerlikaya stated that 1,133 suspects were detained between March 19 and March 23 for alleged involvement in illegal activities. He added that some of those detained were linked to 12 different terrorist organizations.

Imamoglu, a prominent political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was taken from his home on Wednesday. In response, Istanbul authorities banned protests and closed several roads to "maintain public order" and prevent "provocative actions."

The protests have turned violent, with more than 120 police officers injured, according to Yerlikaya. He reported that authorities had seized dangerous objects, including acid, stones, sticks, fireworks, Molotov cocktails, axes, and knives.

Yerlikaya appeared to warn opposition leaders, saying, "Let no one try to use our youth and our people as a shield for their own political ambitions."

President Erdogan condemned the protests, labeling them a "movement of violence" during a news conference on Monday. He accused the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), of being responsible for any property damage and injuries to police officers.

"When they look back at this, if they have even an ounce of respect, I believe they will feel embarrassed for the harm they've caused to the country and its people," Erdogan said.

Turkey’s opposition leader, Özgür Özel, pushed back, accusing Erdogan of steering Turkey toward authoritarianism. Speaking to CNN’s Bianna Golodryga on Monday, Özel defended the protesters, saying they were simply trying to "defend democracy and preserve their rights."

Protests have erupted in major cities across Turkey, including Istanbul and the capital Ankara, following Imamoglu’s arrest.

Imamoglu, considered Erdogan’s most formidable political rival, was detained just days before he was expected to be named the CHP’s candidate for the 2028 presidential election. He was formally arrested on corruption charges on Sunday, a move his supporters call politically motivated.

About 100 others connected to Imamoglu, including elected Istanbul district mayors Resul Emrah Sahan and Murat Calik, have also been detained.

Imamoglu has denied the charges, calling his arrest a dangerous escalation in Erdogan’s crackdown on dissent.

In a message from Silivri Prison, where he is being held, Imamoglu said the recent presidential primary had seen record voter turnout. He claimed he was widely expected to win the nomination and challenge Erdogan in 2028.

"Fifteen million of our citizens cast their votes. Tens of millions of people in this country, suffering under the oppression of the government, a shattered economy, lack of merit, and lawlessness, rushed to the ballot boxes," Imamoglu said. He added that voters’ message to Erdogan was clear: "Enough is enough."

Analysts believe Imamoglu was on track to become Turkey's next leader, with some polls showing he could beat Erdogan in a head-to-head race. His arrest, critics argue, signals a dangerous shift toward greater political repression in Turkey.