CNN
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Turkish authorities detained 343 people during an overnight protest in several cities that denounced the detention of Mayor Iklem Imamogur, President Receptacle Tayyip Erdogan’s main political rival.
The protests across major cities that began Thursday were almost peaceful, violating the ban on protests to allow tens of thousands of protesters to go to the streets against Imamoguru’s detention.
Turkish authorities detained Imamoguru on Wednesday as part of an investigation into corruption and terrorism. Declining orders were also issued on Wednesday for around 100 others connected to the mayor, including his press advisor Murat Ongun, according to the state-run telecommunications agency Anadolu. His party says the accusations are politically motivated.
“Those who disrupt the social order, threaten the peace and security of our country, seeking confusion and provocation will never be given an opportunity and will definitely not be tolerated!”
Imamoguru is scheduled to appear at Kagrayan Court in Istanbul later on Saturday for further questions from the prosecutors. More protests are expected across the country.
On Friday, Turkish social media videos and local media outlets showed that the capitals Ankara and Istanbul were using water cannons to fire tear gas and disperse protesters.
The Turkish Ministry of Interior said on Friday that at least 16 police officers were injured during clashes with Turkish protesters since the protest eruption.
Erdogan dismissed the anger of the opposition as “theater” and “slogans” that Turkey has no time.
Imamoguru was elected mayor in 2019 and again in 2024. The next presidential vote is scheduled for 2028, but some analysts say Erdogan can call for an early election, which will allow him to bypass the time limit.
