Protests spread in Türkiye, more than 1,100 people arrested

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan affirmed on March 24 that the massive protests in the country in recent days have turned into a "violent movement".

Turkish president says opposition parties will be held responsible for cases of protesters destroying property and injuring police

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest against the government after Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested on March 19 on corruption charges and will face trial. Türkiye's interior minister said some protesters were threatening national security. He added that more than 1,100 people had been arrested in six days and about 120 police officers had been injured, AFP reported.

Police use tear gas on protesters in Istanbul, Türkiye on March 24.

Imamoglu's arrest has caused a stir in the country, especially as observers believe the Istanbul mayor, who belongs to the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), could pose a challenge to Erdogan's camp in Turkey's presidential election. The CHP held its primary election on March 23 and later announced that Imamoglu had been formally nominated as its presidential candidate for the 2028 race. The party has said the charges against Imamoglu are politically motivated, something President Erdogan's government has denied. CHP leader Ozgur Ozel has called for protests to continue, while President Erdogan has warned the CHP to stop inciting people.

The arrest has created concerns among investors in Türkiye. The country's stocks and currency have plummeted in recent days, forcing the central bank to intervene to stabilize the market. President Erdogan reassured investors and affirmed that relevant agencies are closely coordinating to stabilize the macro-finance. According to Reuters, economists believe that Türkiye's economic outlook may be affected by Erdogan's political decisions.

The political developments in Türkiye have also affected Ankara's relations with the European Union (EU). The meeting of the EU-Türkiye Joint Parliamentary Committee was postponed on March 24, after the EU said the current situation was not conducive to holding the session. European Commission spokesman Guillaume Mercier issued a statement saying: "The arrest of Mayor Imamoglu and the protesters raises questions about Turkey's adherence to its long-standing democratic traditions."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bieu-tinh-lan-rong-o-tho-nhi-ky-hon-1100-nguoi-bi-bat-185250325223515347.htm