343 people detained in protests in Turkey
Turkish authorities detained 343 people at protests last night in several cities in Turkey over the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's chief rival.
Demonstrations were held in dozens of cities, including Istanbul and the capital Ankara.
The Turkish Interior Ministry said the arrests were made to prevent « public order disturbances » and warned that authorities would not tolerate « chaos and provocations ».
Tens of thousands of Turks have been involved in a major demonstration on Wednesday, when Imamoglu was arrested on charges of corruption and assisting a terrorist group, along with 103 other suspects.
Immoglu is also considered a reliable candidate for the main opposition People's Republican Party (NRP) for the 2028 presidential election.
The NRP denied any abuses from Imamoglu and described the case as politically motivated, citing peaceful protests despite authorities' ban on public gatherings.
Interior Minister Ali Ferlika and Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunch have condemned the call for protests and described him as « irresponsible ». Ferlika accused the protesters of wanting to « disturb public order and cause chaos. »
Imamoglu, meanwhile, praised the protests he said were aimed at protecting « democracy ». He is expected to make a statement to police in Istanbul today, where he has been kept on Wednesday and then brought to court.
If Immoglu is convicted of terrorism, Turkish law allows authorities to replace the mayor with their official.
