Miles left in Türkiye for protests after more than 1,400 arrests

Thousands of people in Türkiye have been a seventh night of protests that so far have seen more than 1,400 people detained, including students, journalists and lawyers.

The night disturbances began last Wednesday when the mayor of the city, Ekrem Imamoglu, which is seen as President Rece Tayyip Erdogan the main political rival – was arrested for corruption charges.

Rights and UN groups have condemned arrests and the use of force by the police over protesters.

Imamoglu said the accusations against him were politically motivated, a claim that the Turkish president has denied.

Speaking to a group of young people at a meal that breaks the Ramadan in Ankara on Tuesday, President Erdogan urged patience and common sense in the midst of what he described as “very sensitive days.”

He added that people who want to “turn this country into a chaos place have nowhere to go”, and the protesters they have taken is “a dead end.”

On Tuesday, thousands of students from many universities in Istanbul met at Maçka and then marched to şişli.

The authorities in Istanbul prohibited protests and closed some roads “to maintain public order” and “avoid any provocative action that may occur.”

While the students marched through the Nisantantasi district, they sang “Government, resign!” and undoubted flags and banners while they were observed by a large deployment of the riot police.

Many students had their faces covered with scarves or masks, and recognized that they were afraid to be identified by the police.

The main opposition party of Turkey, the Republican Popular Party (CHP), said on Tuesday that its concentration outside the Istanbul City Council would be the last in a series of night meetings, and that it is planning a demonstration in the city on Saturday.

“Are you ready for a large rally in a large place in Istanbul on Saturday?” Ozgur Ozel told the crowds.

“Support Imamoglu, object to your arrest, object to the arrest of each of our mayors. To demand transparent, open and live transmission evidence, to say that we have had enough and want early elections.”

Since last Wednesday, Turkey Interior Minister said that 1,418 protesters have been arrested after the days of demonstrations that the Government has considered “illegal.”

Publish Ali Yerlikaya on social networks wrote: “While there are currently 979 suspects in custody, 478 people will be taken to court.

“There will be no concessions to those who try to terrorize the streets, attack our national and moral values, and our police officers.”

On Tuesday, seven journalists appeared in court, including the photographer of the AFP news agency, Yasin Akgül, who had been covering the demonstrations.

The president of the AFP, Fabrice Fries, has written a letter addressed to the Turkish presidency that urges Erdogan to “intervene” in the imprisonment of Akgul that he described as “unacceptable.”

“Yasin Akgül was not part of the protest,” said Fries. “As a journalist, he was covering one of the many demonstrations that have been organized in the country since Wednesday, March 19.

“He has taken exactly 187 photographs since the beginning of the protests, each one is witnessing his work as a journalist.”

Imamoglu was one of the more than 100 people arrested last week as part of an investigation. Other arrested included politicians, journalists and businessmen.

His arrest does not prevent his candidacy or election as president, but he will not be able to run if he is convicted of any of the charges against him.

The mayor of the opposition is seen as one of Erdogan’s most formidable rivals, who has held a position in Türkiye for 22 years as Prime Minister and President.

The Erdogan term will expire in 2028, and according to the current rules, it cannot be again, but could call an early election or try to change the Constitution to allow it to remain in power for a longer time.

The Ministry of Justice of Türkiye has criticized those who connect Erdogan to the arrests and insisted on their judicial independence.