Thousands protest İstanbul mayor’s detention outside city hall
Thousands gathered outside İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) headquarters in the Fatih district late yesterday to protest the detention of Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and more than 100 others, including district mayors and other officials.
People began arriving in the early morning hours, and the crowd grew steadily after Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel called for a rally at 8.30 pm.
İstanbul mayor detained on multiple charges as he prepared to challenge Erdoğan for presidency
Protesters chanted slogans, including “Dictator Tayyip,” “Salvation is in the streets, not at the ballot box,” and “No salvation alone, either all of us or none of us.”
Several politicians and party representatives attended the demonstration, including Musavat Dervişoğlu, leader of the Good (İYİ) Party. CHP lawmakers and mayors were present at the municipal hall from the morning.
İBB Saraçhane binası önünde yüzlerce kişi İmamoğlu’na destek için toplandı.
— bianet (@bianet_org) March 19, 2025
📹: @alidnc4 pic.twitter.com/lysv1B52Gu
‘We don’t want to live in fear’
Among the demonstrators was an 18-year-old law student who expressed frustration over the state of justice in Turkey.
“I am studying law in a country where there is no rule of law,” they said. “Unlawfulness is everywhere. The constitution is being violated. Every day, someone is arrested. Tomorrow, we don’t know who it will be. Maybe even we will be arrested, just for being here. We don’t want to live in fear. We don’t want to spend our youth under this government.”
📢 CHP lideri Özgür Özel’in konuşmasının ardından, İBB Saraçhane binası önündeki yurttaşlar “Sokağa” sloganları attı.
— bianet (@bianet_org) March 19, 2025
📹 Video: @alidnc4 pic.twitter.com/luU8CSMrys
Another protester who came alone to show support said, “I am here for justice. The legal system has collapsed. We must fight for everyone’s rights. The people’s reaction can change everything.”
An elderly citizen from Zeytinburnu who had come early in the morning voiced concerns about the country’s direction. “The country is finished. The economy and the judiciary have collapsed. It’s like a truck with failed brakes,” they said.
They also spoke about their financial struggles, saying that "I cant make ends meet with my pension," and added, When the biggest issue in this country is the cost of living, I can’t bear to see these unlawful actions taking priority.”
Expressing skepticism about change, the protester continued, “They know thousands of us are here, but they don’t care.” However, they added, they would be on the streets until İmamoğlu is released.
İBB Saraçhane binası önünde toplanma sürüyor.
— bianet (@bianet_org) March 19, 2025
🗣️ Yurttaşlar “Hırsız sarayda, İstanbul sokakta” ve “Kurtuluş yok tek başına, ya hep beraber ya hiçbirimiz” sloganları atıyor.
📹 Video: Ümmü Gülsüm Sülün pic.twitter.com/0yzXxTBwUV
Dilek İmamoğlu: 'An attack on the will of 16 million İstanbulites'
Addressing the crowd Dilek İmamoğlu, the wife of detained İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, thanked demonstrators for their perseverance.
"On this cold day, you walked for kilometers, overcoming obstacles and barricades to be here. I sincerely thank each and every one of you," she remarked.
She urged the public to stand firm, saying, "We will never give up. I ask you all to stand with us against this grand conspiracy. We must raise our voices together. And together, we will elect this country’s next president."
İmamoğlu and the other suspects were detained as part of two separate investigations concerning terrorism and corruption charges. The mayor was poised to run in the CHP's presidential primary on Mar 23 and is widely viewed as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's most important rival for presidency. (AD/VK)
"This morning, it was not just Ekrem İmamoğlu who was detained, it was the will of 16 million Istanbulites," she said, adding, "Those detained today are the retirees who could finally afford to eat meat thanks to the city diners. The students who could continue their education because they had dormitories. The mothers who benefited from free public transportation. The impoverished, the young, the elderly...
"Today, we are all under detention. Today, the rule of law, democracy, and justice have been detained." (AD/VK)