Erdogan: ‘Era of Street Terror Has Ended’; 320 Arrested Overnight
The arrests came on the heels of mounting anger over the March 19 detention of İmamoğlu, who was taken into custody following a large-scale security operation involving more than 3,000 police officers.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Political tensions in Türkiye have reached a boiling point as mass protests erupted across Istanbul following the controversial detention of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and a leading opposition figure.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced Sunday that 323 people had been arrested during overnight demonstrations, underscoring the growing unrest surrounding the mayor's case.
“A police officer was abducted during last night's protests. Those who take to the streets to demonstrate must understand the responsibilities they bear. We will never allow disruption and disturbances by those who threaten the country's peace and stability,” Yerlikaya declared in a post on his official X account.
The arrests came on the heels of mounting anger over the March 19 detention of İmamoğlu, who was taken into custody following a large-scale security operation involving more than 3,000 police officers. The operation resulted in the arrest of over 100 individuals, including businesspeople, public figures, and officials.
Authorities claim the mayor has ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) – designated as a terrorist organization by EU, US, and Türkiye – and has been involved in financial corruption.
On Saturday night, İmamoğlu appeared before Türkiye’s Supreme Court to provide testimony. The prosecutor called for his continued imprisonment until the charges are fully investigated. A statement from the Istanbul Municipality said İmamoğlu categorically rejected all accusations, calling them "unethical and baseless" and a targeted attempt to smear his political reputation.
The mayor's detention has had immediate political repercussions. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his legal status, the Republican People's Party (CHP) is expected to name İmamoğlu as its candidate for the upcoming Turkish presidential election.
The party is holding internal elections on Sunday, March 23, to formalize the candidacy. In anticipation of further instability, the CHP has also scheduled an extraordinary congress for April 6 to address the possible imposition of a government-appointed trustee in Istanbul.
In an attempt to contain the protests, Istanbul Governor Davud Gül extended the citywide protest ban until March 27.
"To maintain city security and prevent further unrest, the decision has been made to extend the protest ban," Gül stated. Access to and from Istanbul has been restricted, and several metro stations and roads were closed to deter more people from joining the demonstrations.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan weighed in on the crisis Saturday evening after breaking fast during Ramadan. He condemned the protests, declaring that "the era of street terror has ended" and vowing that Turkish municipalities would not align with "the corrupt and oppressors."
"Regardless of what the opposition does, we will not abandon wisdom, calm, and restraint," Erdoğan said. He accused the CHP of seeking to destabilize the country, adding that Ramadan would be used as a time to reinforce Türkiye’s unity.
Earlier last week, on March 20, İmamoğlu had issued a public message via X, urging Turkish citizens not to remain silent in the face of what he termed a political "war" targeting him and the broader opposition.
"This is not just about me or my party. This is about the future of our country," he stated.
According to a report by The New York Times (NYT) published on March 22, President Erdoğan entered this year facing mounting political challenges, including voter frustration over persistent inflation and declining popularity of his ruling party. The opposition had rallied around İmamoğlu, who had emerged as a top contender for the presidency. His arrest, just days before his expected nomination as the opposition's candidate, has been widely interpreted by critics as a calculated move to derail his presidential campaign before it could formally begin.
Analysts and foreign officials have raised concerns about the trajectory of democracy in Türkiye. Arife Kose, a Turkish politics scholar at the University of East Anglia, was cited by the New York Times stating that while Türkiye has never been a perfect democracy, arresting a presidential candidate represents a significant slide toward authoritarianism. "Using the state’s power to foreclose competitive elections means that it is getting closer to a fully authoritarian country," she told NYT.
Over the past decade, critics argue, President Erdoğan has tightened his grip on the judiciary, the media, and the bureaucracy, using these tools to suppress dissent. While Türkiye has retained some democratic elements, such as competitive municipal elections, the arrest of İmamoğlu could mark a turning point.
Legal experts like Hasan Sinar of Altinbas University warned that barring İmamoğlu from running would place Türkiye among countries where elections are held but lack meaningful competition. "They have elections, but they are so-called elections because the president himself is designing the opposition and deciding who is going to run against him," Sinar told NYT.
Despite the escalating crackdown, including bans on public demonstrations and restrictions on social media, thousands of protesters defied government orders to rally in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. These are among the largest protests in Türkiye since the 2013 Gezi Park demonstrations, according to The New York Times.
İmamoğlu, who won the Istanbul mayoralty in a landmark 2019 upset and was re-elected last year, has remained a popular and resilient political figure. Over his tenure, he has faced 42 administrative and 51 judicial investigations. In addition to recent terrorism and corruption allegations, he has been convicted of insulting public officials and had his university diploma annulled — a move that could disqualify him from presidential candidacy under Türkiye's Constitution.
Despite these roadblocks, analysts believe İmamoğlu continues to pose a significant threat to Erdoğan’s grip on power. Berk Esen, a political science professor at Sabanci University, described the government's response as a desperate attempt to neutralize a rising challenger. "He made it clear to Erdoğan that the train is moving, it is coming in his direction, and he won’t be able to stop it with the normal means," Esen told NYT. "As a result, Erdoğan went for the jugular."
The ongoing situation has triggered one of the most serious confrontations between the government and the opposition in recent years, with implications that may significantly shape the political landscape in the lead-up to Türkiye's next presidential election.
