Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has called for a large-scale rally on Saturday to protest the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, as nationwide demonstrations against his detention continue.
Police have deployed tear gas and pepper spray to disperse crowds in Istanbul and the capital Ankara, amid the country’s most significant unrest in more than a decade.
Since İmamoğlu’s arrest last week, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have gathered in public squares, streets, and university campuses across Turkey, demanding his release. Opposition parties, European leaders, and human rights groups have condemned his detention as politically motivated and undemocratic.
President Tayyip Erdoğan has dismissed the protests as “theatrics” and warned that participants could face legal repercussions.
Since İmamoğlu’s arrest last week, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have gathered in public squares, streets, and university campuses across Turkey, demanding his release. Opposition parties, European leaders, and human rights groups have condemned his detention as politically motivated and undemocratic.
President Tayyip Erdoğan has dismissed the protests as “theatrics” and warned that participants could face legal repercussions.
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