Wave of arrests unleashed in Turkey following the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul, more than 300 detained

The Turkish police detained more than 300 people early Saturday in several raids, some carried out at university residences, following mass protests that erupted Friday night in a dozen cities across the country.

The demonstrations, which drew hundreds of thousands of people, were a direct response to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent opposition leader and main rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Imamoglu, accused of "terrorism" and "corruption," appeared Saturday before prosecutors at the Istanbul courthouse amid a heavy police presence and shows of support from his supporters.

The interior minister, Ali Yerlikaya, confirmed that the number of detainees is 323 in a communiqué published on his X account, where he warned, "No initiative that undermines public order will be allowed!"

Friday's protests, organized by the Republican People's Party (CHP), the largest opposition party, challenged a ban on demonstrations imposed by authorities until Sunday. Özgür Özel, leader of the CHP, called Imamoglu's arrest a "coup d'état" and estimated that some 300,000 people demonstrated in Istanbul alone.

Clashes were reported during the rallies with police, who used tear gas in Istanbul and water cannons in cities such as Izmir and Ankara.

Imamoglum, a key figure against Erdogan

Opposition figure Imamoglu, 53, was detained Wednesday on charges the opposition considers politically motivated.

Mayor of Istanbul since 2019, he has established himself as a key figure against Erdogan, whom he outpaces in some opinion polls.

On Saturday, as he was being transferred to court, hundreds of people rallied in his support in front of the building, facing police barricades. In the same vein, there were scuffles between agents and defense lawyers to whom the authorities restricted access.

In a communique, the Istanbul governorate extended the ban on gatherings, demonstrations and protests until midnight on March 26. It announced restrictions on the movement of vehicles coming from other cities if their occupants are suspected of planning to participate in protests.

Imamoglu grateful for support

Through a message on X posted by his lawyers, Imamoglu thanked the protesters: "You defend our Republic, democracy, the future of a just Turkey and the will of our nation."

Imamoglu's arrest and the subsequent crackdown on protesters have intensified political tensions in Turkey, a country polarized between Erdogan's Islamist government and an opposition that sees in the Istanbul mayor a hope for change.