Hundreds of thousands join Istanbul protest rally

Waving flags and chanting for democracy, hundreds of thousands took to the streets of Istanbul on Saturday in one of Turkey’s largest anti-government demonstrations in over a decade.

The protests erupted after the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key opposition leader seen as a major political threat to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The rally in Maltepe, on Istanbul’s Asian side, came on the eve of Eid al-Fitr. According to opposition leader Özgür Özel of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), 2.2 million people attended—though AFP could not independently verify the number.

“I’m not scared. I’m ready to sacrifice my life for this country,” said an 82-year-old woman carrying a Turkish flag and Imamoglu’s picture. “He’s an honest man. He will save the republic.”

Imamoglu, widely viewed as Erdogan’s most formidable challenger, was arrested on March 19 over corruption charges many believe to be politically motivated.

The backlash quickly spread beyond Istanbul, with nightly protests outside City Hall escalating into clashes with riot police using tear gas and rubber bullets.

“We, the people, elect our rulers,” declared 17-year-old protester Melis Basak Ergun. “We will not back down.”

Growing resistance

Protesters aboard ferries crossing the Bosphorus chanted, “Everywhere is Taksim, resistance is everywhere!”—a reference to the landmark 2013 Gezi Park protests.

“I protested outside City Hall for four days with university students,” said 78-year-old Cafer Sungur. “There is no other way than to keep fighting.”

Imamoglu’s wife, children, and parents were among those at the rally. CHP leader Özel vowed that mass protests would now take place weekly across Turkey, alongside a regular Wednesday night demonstration in Istanbul.

“If we don’t stop this attempted coup, it will mean the end of the ballot box,” Özel warned.

Crackdown on protesters and Press

The government has responded with mass arrests, detaining nearly 2,000 protesters. Press freedom has also taken a hit, with authorities arresting 13 journalists in five days, including AFP photographer Yasin Akgul, and deporting BBC’s Mark Lowen.

Swedish journalist Joakim Medin, who arrived in Turkey to cover the protests, was jailed Friday on charges of “insulting the president.” Rights groups fear the crackdown will only escalate.

“The authorities are determined to silence coverage of the protests,” said Barış Altıntaş of the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA). “The repression of local journalists is now extending to foreign reporters.”

As Turkey braces for further unrest, opposition leaders say the fight is far from over. “We stand behind our mayor,” vowed student protesters, undeterred by arrests or riot police.