ISTANBUL: Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Thursday urged the judiciary to take a stand against the Turkish government´s misuse of the courts as protesters rallied for a second day over his shock arrest in a graft and terror probe.
Imamoglu urged judges and prosecutors to “stand up and take action against those who are ruining the judiciary” in a message on X via his lawyers. “You cannot and must not remain silent,” he wrote after spending his first night in police custody after what the main opposition CHP denounced as a political “coup”.
The powerful and popular mayor -- who is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan´s main political rival -- was held before dawn on Wednesday, just days before he was to be named as the CHP´s candidate for the 2028 race.
The move brought thousands onto the streets, despite a four-day ban on protests, and by Thursday afternoon, the demonstrators were back holding placards saying “Together against lawlessness”.
More than 1,000 students from Galatasaray University joined a protest march through the waterfront Besiktas district, with scuffles as police tried to break it up. Students were also marching from Istanbul University, which had on Tuesday revoked Imamoglu´s degree -- a significant move as presidential candidates must have a third level qualification.
Workers sort coal near a mine in Datong, Shanxi province, China, on Nov 3, 2021. — AFPKINSHASA: At least 10 people...
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte attends a meeting with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon in...
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer addresses the crew of the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince Of Wales in front of...
People vote in the 2024 US presidential election on Election Day in Columbus, Ohio, US, November 5, 2024....
People gather at St Peter's Square, following the death of Pope Francis, at the Vatican, April 22, 2025. —...
President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin talk at the APEC Summit in Danang, Vietnam. — Reuters/FileKYIV:...