US EditionBBC World Service - Newshour, Turkey crackdown on journalists and protesters
- On March 27, 2025, Turkey faced widespread protests and a government crackdown following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival to President Erdogan.
- The protests erupted after Imamoglu, a potential candidate for the 2028 presidential election, was jailed on corruption charges and stripped of his university degree, a requirement for candidacy, leading to accusations of a politicized effort to eliminate a rival.
- Authorities detained 1,879 people since the protests began last Wednesday, with Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reporting that 260 remained in custody awaiting trial, 489 were released, and 662 were under legal review, while 150 police officers were injured.
- Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc defended the arrest, claiming it was based on serious allegations and criminal investigations, while also addressing concerns about the timing of Imamoglu's arrest and asserting that the judiciary only considered criminal reports, stating, "We don't want the arrest of any politician, but if there is evidence of a violation then it can happen."
- European Commission spokesman Guillaume Mercier deplored the arrests of journalists, including AFP photojournalist Yasin Akgul, and the shutdown of social media accounts, while Reporters Without Borders, a free speech advocate, noted Turkey's low ranking of 158th out of 180 countries in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index.
54 Articles
54 Articles
BBC World Service - Newshour, Turkey crackdown on journalists and protesters
After days of protests following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Turkish authorities have arrested almost 1,900 people including protesters and journalists. Also on the programme, US President Donald Trump said he would target imported vehicles and vehicle parts with a 25% tax; and we talk to the Palestinian-American comedian Mo Amer on using humour to tell sometimes uncomfortable truths about the immigrant experience. (Photo: A per…
Turkey detains nearly 1,900 in protests over jailed mayor, rejects foreign criticism
Turkey said on Thursday it rejected "prejudiced" foreign statements over the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and protests it triggered, following the detention of nearly 1,900 people since the nationwide demonstrations began eight days ago. After the arrest and subsequent release of seven local journalists covering the rallies, the…
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