Turkish Authorities Detain Journalists Covering Protests Over Mayor’s Arrest
Turkish police have detained nine journalists who reported on nationwide protests against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, according to the Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS). The reason for their detention remains unclear.
The arrests follow a Turkish court’s decision on Sunday to jail Imamoglu—President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s primary political rival—pending trial on corruption charges. The move has sparked the country’s largest wave of protests in over a decade.
Despite government-imposed bans on public gatherings, mostly peaceful demonstrations continued for a fifth consecutive night on Sunday. The protests were organized in response to what the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) calls a politically motivated and undemocratic prosecution.
Authorities maintain that the investigations are not influenced by politics and emphasize judicial independence. Imamoglu, however, has dismissed the charges as “unimaginable accusations and slanders” and urged supporters to protest nationwide.
CHP leader Özgür Özel addressed crowds at a rally in Istanbul’s Saraçhane district, vowing to continue demonstrations until Imamoglu is freed.
Among the detained journalists is an AFP photojournalist, the TGS confirmed in a social media post. The crackdown on press coverage has raised concerns about media freedom in Turkey amid escalating political tensions.
