The images coming from Turkey are unprecedented after arresting and delaying its mayor Constantinople Imamoglouwith thousands of people coming out on the streets despite the ban on demonstrations, in a solidarity move to the biggest political enemy of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Characteristic of the prevailing rage are images outside the City Hall of Constantinople, where thousands of people give the “present” to rally for the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu.
The mayor of Constantinople was found to be in custody, accused of being the head of a criminal organization with a profit purpose and in the context of a separate investigation to provide assistance to the PKK, the Kurdistan Labor Party Movement, which is characterized by terrorist organization.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main opponent will remain under police for four days.
The news of his arrest was followed by rallies in many cities in Turkey, with the focus focusing on Constantinople, with thousands of people defying the ban on demonstrations and going out on the street shouting: “Turkey will win.”
See pictures outside the City Hall of Constantinople:
Thousands of opposition supporters gathered at #Istanbul City Hall, waiting for the speech of the leader of the Republican People’s Party Ozgur Ozel.#CHP #Imamoglu #Turkey pic.twitter.com/9NenNxmUkn
– Karina karapetyan (@karinakarapety8) March 19, 2025
Thousands of protesters gather in front of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Saraçhane building in support of İmamoğlu.#Turkey #Turkey#Imamoglu #Istanbul #Erdogan #Tayyiperdoğan pic.twitter.com/nFIfn3l8Yl
— Geopolitical Space (@warleywa28) March 19, 2025
With the slogan “Turkey will win” hundreds of supporters of Ekrem Imoglou protested the arrest of the Mayor of Constantinople.
See live image from Istanbul
At the same time, a large number of students took to the streets to protest the cancellation of the diploma of the Mayor and a candidate for Chp as well as his arrest on Wednesday morning (19/3/25).
#Turkey | Students at Istanbul University gathered to support Ekrem İmamoğlu, broke through the police barricade, and reached Beyazıt Square. Police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.
pic.twitter.com/PWRh0hlAH2– Vedat Yeler (@vedatyeler_) March 19, 2025
Police tried to prevent students’ course, but thousands of protesters, shouting slogans in favor of democracy, managed to break them. The atmosphere was explosive.
BREAKING:
Chaos erupts at Istanbul University as students clash with riot police after this morning’s arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, presidential candidate of Turkey’s main opposition party & Mayor of Istanbul.
He was considered Erdogan’s main rival in the 2028 Turkish election pic.twitter.com/U8DbswfqpC
– Visegrád 24 (@Visegrad24) March 19, 2025
Similar were the images in the morning and outside the Istanbul Police Station.
Your barricade, plastic bullets and pepper gas will not remove us!
Despite all kinds of efforts to block we walk to the Main Gate!#imamoğlu #istanbul pic.twitter.com/w0muiVmUYZ
– Hergele Post (@hergepostasi) March 19, 2025
“Your barricades, rubber bullets and tear gas will not work against us! Despite all the efforts to prevent us, we are walking towards the central gate! ” It refers to a video caption that has climbed to social media.