Minister engages in heated exchange with protesters via bus microphone as many detained

Click to read the article in Turkish

Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu encountered a wave of protests during his visit today to İstanbul's Gazi neighborhood as part of the re-election campaign of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Gazi neighborhood, known for its working-class demographics and historical association with leftist and socialist groups, as well as its predominantly Alevi religious minority, proved to be a hotspot for dissent as protesters voiced their grievances against Minister Soylu.

Amidst a charged atmosphere, tensions flared when the minister's speeches through the bus microphone drew strong reactions from the crowd.

As citizens gathered around an election stand of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), their voices echoed with slogans demanding "Rights, law, justice." Minister Soylu, in what many perceived as provocative rhetoric, responded by questioning the alignment of the CHP with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), stating, "Is this how CHP operates? You have joined hands with the PKK. Have a good day.."

Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) deputy Ahmet Şık shared a video on Twitter capturing the moments of Soylu's exchange with the protesters:

Gazi Mahallesi’ne ancak yüzlerce polis eşliğinde gidebilen @suleymansoylu, kendisini yuhalayarak tepki gösterenlere “CHP-PKK ile iç içe girmişsiniz. Yzıklar olsun size, Kandil’e evet dediniz” diyerek halkı kışkırtıp sonra da gözaltına aldırdı. https://t.co/finOOlZvXS pic.twitter.com/2AYUBfNAyq

— ahmet şık (@sahmetsahmet) May 25, 2023

The situation further escalated when police intervened to control the growing unrest. Protesters, who had marched from the former Police Station area to Şair Abay High School, were met with forceful police response.

Clashes ensued, resulting in a significant number of individuals being forcefully detained. Some were forced to the ground, while others faced physical altercations before being taken into custody.

The incidents unfolded just days before the second round of the presidential election scheduled for Sunday, following the initial round held on May 14.

(NT/VK)