Istanbul Court Jails Journalists Covering Protests as Crackdown Intensifies
An Istanbul court has ordered the detention of seven journalists, including an AFP photographer, for covering demonstrations against the arrest of opposition leader Ekrem Imamoglu. The decision comes amid ongoing mass protests defying government restrictions, with over 1,400 people detained, including 11 journalists.
Among those jailed was AFP photographer Yasin Akgul, 35, sparking condemnation from the Paris-based news agency. AFP CEO Fabrice Fries called the imprisonment “unacceptable” in a letter to the Turkish presidency, emphasizing that Akgul was merely performing his journalistic duties and not participating in the protests. The court charged the journalists with “taking part in illegal rallies.”
Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the ruling as “scandalous,” with Turkey representative Erol Onderoglu warning it reflects a “very serious situation” for press freedom in the country.
Protests Spread Despite Government Crackdown
The unrest began after Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu—President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s chief political rival—was arrested on March 19. Demonstrations have since erupted nationwide, marking Turkey’s largest wave of protests since the 2013 Gezi Park uprising.
On Sunday, Imamoglu was overwhelmingly selected as the Republican People’s Party (CHP) candidate for the 2028 presidential election, a move analysts say triggered his arrest. Erdogan has dismissed the protests as “street terror,” vowing to suppress dissent.
Despite heavy police presence, thousands of students marched through Istanbul’s Sisli district on Tuesday, chanting “Government, resign!” and waving anti-Erdogan banners. Many wore masks to avoid identification, with one student, Nisa, telling AFP she joined despite fears of retaliation “to defend democracy.”
International Condemnation
The Council of Europe criticized Turkish authorities for the “disproportionate” use of force, including water cannons, pepper spray, and rubber bullets. Human Rights Watch called it a “dark time for democracy,” while the UN urged Turkey to release detainees held for “legitimate protest.”
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced 1,418 arrests related to the protests, warning of “no concessions” for those who “terrorize the streets.” However, CHP leader Ozgur Ozel pledged to escalate demonstrations, declaring, “We do not decrease in numbers with arrests—there will be even more of us.”
Imamoglu, 53, widely seen as Erdogan’s strongest challenger, has been stripped of his mayoral position and jailed in what supporters call a politically motivated case. As tensions rise, Turkey faces growing scrutiny over its crackdown on dissent and press freedom.
