Mass arrests in Turkey spark international outcry over imprisonment of opposition leader Ekrem İmamoğlu

ISTANBUL — Turkish authorities have arrested over 1,300 protesters in Istanbul and other cities following nationwide demonstrations against the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a leading opposition figure and prominent challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The arrests have drawn sharp criticism from European governments and institutions.

Protests erupted across Turkey on Monday night, with tens of thousands rallying in Istanbul and 55 other provinces to condemn the jailing of İmamoğlu. The opposition mayor, widely regarded as Erdoğan’s strongest political rival, was sentenced in a case critics argue is politically motivated.

Clashes between demonstrators and police escalated, leading to over 1,300 detentions since Wednesday. On Monday night alone, authorities detained 43 protesters, including 10 journalists in Istanbul and İzmir. These arrests have intensified scrutiny of Erdoğan’s government and its crackdown on political dissent.

The Council of Europe condemned İmamoğlu’s detention, describing it as a direct assault on democracy. In a statement, the council warned that the mayor’s imprisonment represents a dangerous escalation in Turkey’s repression of political opposition and called for his immediate release.

In Brussels, the European Commission signaled potential repercussions, with officials considering canceling scheduled talks with Turkey. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the arrest “deeply troubling,” while Germany’s Foreign Ministry declared Turkey’s EU accession aspirations “hollow,” urging the release of political opponents. France joined in condemnation, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux calling İmamoğlu’s imprisonment a “serious blow to democracy.”

As international criticism grows, İmamoğlu’s detention is emerging as a pivotal challenge for Erdoğan’s administration, carrying profound political and diplomatic implications.