Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Istanbul following the arrest of the city’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu

Istanbul: According to France 24, thousands of demonstrators occupied Istanbul’s streets on Thursday after Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested. According to France 24, İmamoğlu, a member of the opposition party, is seen as a significant opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

In an effort to quell demonstrations, a four-day demonstration ban was implemented, several social media platforms were limited, and some highways were shuttered. Nevertheless, a large number of people assembled outside the City Hall, the police headquarters in Istanbul, and the headquarters of İmamoğlu’s Republican People’s Party (CHP) in defiance of the prohibition.

“Unlawful” and “baseless” accusations were screamed by protesters, who also called the arrest a blow to democracy, according to France 24.

“Democracy does not exist here. It’s a democratic farce. This is not fair to the people. Naturally, we are unhappy. “We are upset as humans,” he said to France 24.

Roads leading to the Vatan Security Department were closed by riot police, and the mayor was transported there after being arrested.

İmamoğlu is a well-liked opposition figure and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s principal adversary. According to France 24, 100 persons were detained, including the mayor and a number of other well-known individuals.

In addition to allegedly assisting the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK), a banned organization that is categorized as a terrorist organization by Ankara, Washington, and other Turkish allies, İmamoğlu and his associates are accused of corruption, including extortion and fraud.

His detention coincides with a wider assault on opposition leaders that has been seen as being politically driven and an effort to quell dissent.

The Mayor’s bachelor’s degree, which is required by Turkish legislation to run for office, was canceled by Istanbul University a day earlier.

Özgür Özel, the head of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), echoed the criticism at a press conference on Wednesday. According to him, Erdogan singled out İmamoğlu because he was afraid of losing to him in the votes after suffering severe defeats in last year’s municipal elections.

Authorities were also accused of a “coup attempt” by Özel. “They are capable of any atrocity. We’re prepared for whatever bad they can do. Since it is evident that the subject is one of the nation’s existence or non-being rather than a political conflict,” he said.

Yilmaz Tunc, the justice minister of Turkey, refuted the accusations and emphasized that the courts are autonomous.

“Characterizing investigations carried out by an impartial and independent judiciary as something like a coup, or using similar terms, is extremely dangerous and incorrect,” Tunc said. The judiciary, he emphasized, “does not take instructions from anyone.”

“It is, at best, erroneous and improper to associate our president with investigations and cases that the court has started. In our nation, the division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches is crucial,” he said.

Von der Leyen emphasizes Turkey’s responsibility to protect democracy. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, reminded Turkey of its duty to respect democratic principles and voiced her profound worry at İmamoğlu’s detention on Tuesday.

“Turkey must respect democratic values, particularly the rights of elected officials, as it is a candidate for the EU,” von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels.

“We want Turkey to remain anchored to Europe, but this requires a clear commitment to democratic norms and practices, and it is key that Turkey respect these fundamental principles,” she said.