Istanbul’s mayor has appeared before police for questioning on terror-related charges, a day after he was interrogated over corruption allegations.
Ekrem Imamoglu’s detention this week has sparked widespread protests across Turkey, with demonstrators rallying in multiple cities to voice their opposition.
Interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said 343 suspects had been detained in protests on Friday night, adding: “There will be no tolerance for those who seek to violate societal order, threaten the people’s peace and security, and pursue chaos and provocation.”
Police officers used pepper spray during the clashes. Pic: AP
Mr Imamoglu was detained on Wednesday in a dawn raid over allegations of financial crimes and links to Kurdish militants.
Dozens of other prominent figures, including two district mayors, were also detained.
He has denied terrorism charges brought against him, according to a court document seen by news agency Reuters on Saturday.
Mr Imamoglu is a popular opposition figure and is seen as a top challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Many view the detention as a politically driven attempt to remove him from the next presidential race, currently scheduled for 2028.
However, government officials reject the accusations and insist Turkey‘s courts operate independently.
On Saturday, police questioned Mr Imamoglu for around five hours as part of an investigation into allegations of aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, the Cumhuriyet newspaper reported.
A day earlier he was questioned for four hours over the corruption accusations.
Mr Imamoglu rejected all charges during both interrogations, and in a post on X described it as a “coup”.
In a court document seen by Reuters, Mr Imamoglu said: “I see today during my interrogation that I and my colleagues are faced with unimaginable accusations and slanders.
“These slanders will bounce back after hitting the walls in the heart of our nation.”
In a veiled reference to Mr Erdogan, he added: “It is imperative that our country be rid of this mentality as soon as possible, which thinks that it is entitled to do everything to protect [its] seat.”
Mr Imamoglu was expected to be transferred to a courthouse later on Saturday for questioning by prosecutors and to face possible charges.
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Pic: AP
On Friday, police in Istanbul used pepper spray, tear gas and rubber bullets to push back hundreds of protesters who tried to break through a barricade in front of the city’s historic aqueduct while hurling flares, stones and other objects at officers.
Police also dispersed groups that had rallied outside of the city hall for a third night running, after the opposition Republican People’s Party leader, Ozgur Ozel, delivered a speech in support of the mayor.
Pic: AP
Pic: AP
Simultaneously, police broke up demonstrations in the capital Ankara, as well as in the Aegean coastal city of Izmir.
A five-day ban on demonstrations has been implemented in both cities after a similar measure was imposed in Istanbul.
Thousands marched in several other cities calling on the government to resign.
Earlier, Mr Erdogan said the government would not tolerate street protests and accused the opposition party of links to corruption and terror organisations.
“An anti-corruption operation in Istanbul is being used as an excuse to stir unrest in our streets. I want it to be known that we will not allow a handful of opportunists to bring unrest to Turkey just to protect their plundering schemes,” he said.
Mr Imamoglu is expected to be nominated as the Republican People’s Party’s presidential candidate in a primary on Sunday.
Mr Ozel has said that the primary, in which around 1.5 million delegates can vote, will go ahead as planned.
The opposition party has also urged citizens to participate in a symbolic election on Sunday – through improvised ballot boxes to be set up across Turkey – to show solidarity with Mr Imamoglu.
