Thousands flood Istanbul streets as opposition rally draws more than 10 000 protesters
The main opposition CHP party held a rally in response, with leader Ozgur Ozel directly challenging Erdogan and declaring 'Ekrem Imamoglu will become president,' continuing protests that sparked Turkey's worst street unrest in over a decade.
The arrests are part of a broader pattern of legal moves targeting the CHP opposition party, including court cases that could overturn their leadership election.
At least 10 000 people joined an opposition rally at Istanbul City Hall on Tuesday on the 100th day since the city's popular mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was jailed in what critics say was a politically motivated graft probe.
The rally came hours after police rounded up more than 120 people linked to City Hall in Izmir, an opposition stronghold and Turkey's third city, in the latest move targeting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's opponents.
The early-morning arrests were part of a probe into alleged graft and followed similar lines to the 19 March operation in opposition-run Istanbul when hundreds were arrested, including Imamoglu, Erdogan's main political rival.
Imamoglu's removal sparked a wave of mass protests with hundreds of thousands rallying outside City Hall, also known as Sarachane, at the urging of the main opposition CHP which also called Tuesday's protest.
"Today, we are all together at the very place where everything began... this struggle is against fascism, this is the fight for freedom," CHP leader Ozgur Ozel shouted, addressing the crowd in his trademark husky voice.
"On 19 March, you stood shoulder to shoulder in Sarachane. You shouted for justice. You stood for your will. You stood behind the one you elected... I am proud of every one of you," he said.
Addressing Erdogan directly over efforts to remove Imamoglu's image from billboards from across the city, he added: "You fear Mayor Ekrem's posters, his brochures, his photograph and his voice. But fear is futile in the face of destiny.
"You will go. Ekrem Imamoglu will become president."
The March protests, which initially turned into nightly running battles with riot police, quickly spread from Istanbul across the country in Turkey's worst street unrest in over a decade.
Nearly 2 000 people were arrested, among them many students as well as a handful of journalists.
Although the nightly protests ended after a week, the CHP has continued to hold rallies across Turkey, boosting its standing in the polls.
'Just like in Istanbul'
Among those arrested in Izmir was the city's former mayor and numerous "senior officials" in a city that the opposition has run for years, CHP's deputy chairman Murat Bakan said.
"This process is similar to what happened in Istanbul," he wrote on X.
"These dawn arrests are not a legal need but are a clear political choice. These people are in the public eye every day. If they had been called to testify, they would have done so," he said.
Izmir public prosecutor's office has issued arrest warrants for a total 157 people, local media reported.It was the latest in a slew of legal manoeuvres targeting the CHP, which aced last year's local elections and is rising in the polls.
On Monday, an Ankara court began hearing a case against the CHP involving allegations of vote-buying at its 2023 leadership primary.
The case could end up overturning the election of Ozel, whose rousing nightly addresses to the Istanbul crowds in March turned him into the poster child of the protest movement.
Critics say the case is another politically motivated attempt to undermine the CHP following the move against Imamoglu, which the party denounced as a "coup".
READ | Clashes erupt in Istanbul over alleged 'Prophet Muhammed' cartoon which 'insulted religious values'
"No conspiracy against our party is ever unrelated to the 19 March coup," Ozel wrote on X.
At Monday's hearing, the judge adjourning the proceedings until 8 September over a question of jurisdiction.
The Izmir arrests came as firefighters continued to battle several large wildfires raging near the western resort city, which have forced the evacuation of more than 45 000 people in the area.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Turkey Advances Military Buildup Against Backdrop Of Israel-Iran War
RIZE, TURKIYE - FEBRUARY 03: Turkiye's longest-range missile 'Tayfun' conducts test flight, in Rize, ... More Turkiye on February 03, 2025. (Photo by Fikret Delal/Anadolu via Getty Images) As Israel and Iran fought each other in the unprecedented Twelve-Day War in June, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was busy continuing a significant buildup of his country's armed forces with acquisitions of advanced foreign and homegrown systems. Days after Israel launched its devastating air campaign against high-value targets across Iran, Erdogan announced that Turkey is 'making production plans to bring our medium- and long-range missile stockpiles to a level that ensures deterrence, in light of recent developments.' 'God willing, in the not-too-distant future, we will reach a defense capacity that is so strong that no one will even dare to act tough toward us,' he added. Turkey already possesses air defense systems and offensive ballistic missiles. Erdogan's mention of a 'defense capacity' may refer to the integrated and multilayered Steel Dome national air defense system that Turkey is developing. Either way, it's possible that this latest war could convince Ankara that it also requires more ballistic missiles. The origins of Turkey's present ballistic missile program go back to the 1990s when China allowed Turkey to produce its B-611 under license, giving Ankara the know-how to develop its own ballistic missiles over time. Turkey later unveiled the Bora-1 short-range ballistic missile in 2017 and test-fired another longer-range homegrown SRBM, the Tayfun, in the Black Sea in October 2022 and February 2025. Turkey signed a contract with Indonesia for Khan SRBMs, the export version of the Bora-1, in November 2022. Ankara is also developing a medium-range ballistic missile known as the Cenk, the Turkish word for war, which will significantly increase the reach of its offensive arsenal. Any increase in ballistic missile production is likely to attract more foreign interest in Turkey's SRBMs, especially as more countries seek to expand and improve their military arsenals amid heightened global instability. With Iran's ballistic missile arsenal, presently the largest in the Middle East, battered by the war, it's not inconceivable that ramped-up Turkish ballistic missile production could see Ankara's arsenal meet or even exceed Tehran's quantitatively over time, especially if Israel strikes again. It seems likely that, as is already the case with its homegrown drones, Turkey can win more export contracts for its ballistic missiles than Iran, which only exported such missiles to Russia. However, Erdogan doubtlessly doesn't plan on putting all his eggs in the ballistic missile basket and almost certainly comprehends that a sophisticated defense capacity plays a vital deterrence role. The Turkish president announced the Steel Dome last year, directly comparing it with Israel's Iron Dome—although unlike the latter, the Steel Dome is a multilayered network of integrated systems. Turkey has already developed and produced a series of short- to long-range systems. While it has favorably compared its high-altitude Siper system to the Russian S-400, the current operational version of that homegrown Turkish system still lacks an anti-ballistic capability. Furthermore, Turkey's S-400s, the only system it presently has that does, aren't being integrated into the Steel Dome. Turkey undoubtedly noted Israel's successful deployment of air-launched ballistic missiles to knock out Iran's air defenses. Tehran's air defenses included the Russian S-300 and indigenous Bavar-373. As neighboring Iran's air defenses failed to intercept any Israeli fighter jets operating deep inside the country's airspace, Erdogan once again requested his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron authorize Turkey to co-produce a version of the SAMP/T air defense missile system. Integrating the SAMP/T into the Steel Dome could markedly enhance Turkey's anti-ballistic defenses and increase overall compatibility with NATO air defenses, something Ankara could never do with its standalone S-400s. Aside from building up his missile arsenal, Erdogan is also pushing for an extensive upgrade of his air force. Past political decisions, such as the contentious S-400 acquisition in 2019, have significantly impacted the modernization of Turkey's air force. Not only was Turkey banned from buying the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II, but it also faced obstacles in upgrading its F-16 fleet—a 2021 request for modern Block 70 F-16s wasn't approved until after Ankara acceded to Sweden's NATO accession. Germany was also reluctant to approve a Turkish acquisition of the Eurofighter Typhoon and, as a member of the consortium, could prevent any export of the fighter. All of that appears to have begun shifting in Ankara's favor. In an interview with Turkish media published on June 29, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack expressed his belief that a solution to the F-35 issue could be reached 'by year-end.' In another Turkish media interview the following day, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Britain was 'making excellent progress' on securing a Turkish Eurofighter deal, adding that 'we are certain all four consortium partners support this sale.' Turkey presently seeks 40 new F-16s, 40 F-35As, and 40 Eurofighters. Acquiring all 120 of these fighter jets within the next decade would hugely improve its air force capabilities. For example, in addition to the Eurofighter, Turkey also wants the accompanying long-range Meteor air-to-air missile, which has a range exceeding the AIM-120 used by Israeli fighter jets. Securing these acquisitions will help ensure that the Turkish Air Force doesn't risk becoming obsolescent, as its Iranian counterpart did long ago, leaving it utterly helpless in the face of Israel's aerial juggernaut. It's noteworthy that these developments roughly coincided with the Twelve-Day War as they all serve as apt reminders that Turkey is actively working to ensure it's adequately equipped and prepared should it one day fight such a modern war.
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Turkey arrests 4 satirical magazine staff for inciting ‘public hatred' with cartoon
ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish authorities on Wednesday arrested four staff members of a satirical magazine on charges of inciting 'public hatred and enmity' over a controversial cartoon that officials claim depicts the Prophet Muhammad, Turkish state television reported. The cartoon, published in the weekly LeMan magazine, sparked a backlash from government officials and religious groups, culminating in protests outside the magazine's Istanbul offices. Authorities claim that the cartoon violates laws against provoking hostility and social divisions. The magazine denies the allegations. In a statement, LeMan said the illustration portrays a Muslim named Muhammad, not the Prophet, and was intended to highlight the suffering of Muslims during armed conflict. On Wednesday, a court in Istanbul ordered four staff — LeMan's cartoonist Dogan Pehlevan, Editor-in-Chief Zafer Aknar, graphic designer Cebrail Okcu, and manager Ali Yavuz — be detained in custody pending a trial, TRT television reported. Authorities have also issued warrants for two editors believed to be abroad, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Footage released by the Interior Ministry earlier this week showed some of the detainees, including Pehlevan and Yavuz, being forcibly taken from their homes with their hands cuffed behind their backs. The pro-government Yeni Safak newspaper said the cartoon showed 'two figures alleged to be Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Moses — with wings and halos — shaking hands in the sky, while a war scene unfolds below with bombs raining down.' The independent Birgun newspaper said the winged figures hovering in the sky were interpreted by some as Prophets Muhammad and Moses. LeMan has apologized to readers for any offence caused by the cartoon, but maintains that the drawing was misinterpreted. It has also asked judicial authorities to defend freedom of expression and shield its staff from ongoing threats. The cartoon triggered protests outside the magazine's Istanbul office, with demonstrators — reportedly from an Islamist organization -- throwing rocks at the building. Tensions flared again Tuesday, with dozens staging a demonstration following noon prayers at a mosque in central Istanbul. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called the cartoon a 'clear provocation disguised as humor' and vowed that 'those who insult the Prophet and other messengers will be held accountable before the law.' Ozgur Ozel, the leader of Turkey's main opposition, however, expressed support to the magazine, stating that he does not consider the cartoon to be depicting the prophet. 'I see an angel who died in a bombardment in Gaza, with a halo and wings, who encounters another angel also killed by a bomb. They meet each other in the sky,' he said. Ozel added: 'I will not allow any disrespect to the Prophet Muhammad, but I won't remain silent toward a social lynching based on a non-existent disrespect.' The incident has reignited debate about press freedom in Turkey, which ranks 159th out of 180 countries in the 2025 Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index. Critics argue that laws intended to curb hate speech are increasingly being used to silence dissenting voices. __ Fraser reported from Ankara, Turkey.
CBS News
3 hours ago
- CBS News
CHP vehicle involved in single-car crash in Culver City; 3 injured
At least 3 injured after CHP vehicle involved in crash in Culver City At least 3 injured after CHP vehicle involved in crash in Culver City At least 3 injured after CHP vehicle involved in crash in Culver City A California Highway Patrol vehicle was involved in a single-car crash in Culver City early Wednesday morning, police say, leaving multiple people with injuries. The Culver City Police Department said the crash occurred at about 12:30 a.m. in the area of Green Valley Circle and Bristol Parkway. The crash involved at least one CHP officer. Images from the scene show an SUV with CHP markings with damage to the front. The SUV was off of the main road and on a dirty patch near several trees; it wasn't clear as of 6 a.m. whether the vehicle collided with a tree. Three were injured after a CHP officer was involved in a single-car crash in Culver City just after midnight Wednesday morning. As of Wednesday morning, it wasn't clear how many of the three injured people were officers. At least one of the three sustained an injury that didn't necessitate transportation to a hospital, police said. It's not yet clear how the crash occurred or if the vehicle was in pursuit at the time of the collision. No additional details were immediately made available. Authorities asked the public to avoid the area between Green Valley Circle to Uplander Way as investigations played out.
