In a passionate display of unity, Türkiye's opposition is determined to keep the protest movement alive following the arrest of Istanbul's opposition mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, on charges his supporters say are unfounded.
After a week of intense nighttime demonstrations, hundreds of thousands gathered in Istanbul during a mass rally demanding İmamoğlu's release. CHP leader Özgür Özel, acting as the party's chief spokesperson while İmamoğlu remains detained, announced plans to hold protests in a different province every weekend and in various Istanbul districts every Wednesday.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that nearly 1,900 people have been detained since the protests began, with 260 already held in custody pending trial. Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed the demonstrations as a mere "show" and urged the CHP to stop "provoking Turks."
Adding an international twist, a Swedish reporter was among the latest to be detained, drawing further global attention to the unfolding events.
With Türkiye entering several days of public holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the opposition remains undeterred. The streets continue to pulse with energy as protestors rally with slogans, emojis like ✊ and 🔥, and an unwavering call for accountability and change.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
