A media union reported that Turkish authorities carried out a crackdown on Monday, arresting several journalists from their homes. This comes amid growing protests following the jailing of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, a key political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

On Sunday, a court formally arrested Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and ordered him to remain in jail while awaiting trial on corruption charges. His detention last Wednesday triggered Turkey’s biggest street protests in over a decade, raising serious concerns about democracy and the rule of law in the country. The Disk-Basin-Is media workers’ union reported that at least eight reporters and photojournalists had been detained, describing the incident as an “attack on press freedoms and the people’s right to learn the truth.” The union demanded their immediate release.

The social media platform X announced that it was challenging several court orders from Turkish authorities to block over 700 accounts, which included those of news organisations, journalists, and political figures in Turkey.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that 1,133 people had been detained following the mayor’s arrest at his home. He also stated that 123 police officers were injured during the protests and that authorities had seized materials such as acid, firebombs, and knives.

On social media, “Some circles have been exploiting the right to assemble and demonstrate, attempting to disrupt public order, incite street unrest and attack our police,” Yerlikaya posted.

The minister stated that some of the detainees were found to have ties to organisations designated as terrorist groups, while others had prior criminal records. Across Turkey, hundreds of thousands of people have participated in primarily peaceful protests supporting the mayor. However, there have been incidents of violence, with police using water cannons, tear gas and plastic pellets against demonstrators in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. Some protesters responded by throwing stones, fireworks, and other objects at riot police.

On social media, Imamoglu urged people to gather outside city hall and other locations for a sixth consecutive night of protests on Monday. He also encouraged young protesters to avoid confrontations and called on police to show restraint and kindness toward demonstrators.

“I’m working hard; I will work even harder. Where I am does not matter,” he stated.

The jailing of the mayor is widely seen as a political move aimed at eliminating a key rival to President Erdogan ahead of the 2028 presidential election. However, government officials dismiss these claims, asserting that Turkey’s judiciary functions independently.

Imamoglu was arrested on charges of leading a criminal organisation, accepting bribes, extortion, illegally recording personal data, and bid-rigging, all of which he has denied. While prosecutors sought to charge him with terrorism-related offences, the request was rejected, though he still faces legal proceedings. The Interior Ministry later announced Imamoglu’s suspension from office as a "temporary measure," an acting mayor was appointed from the municipal governing council.

In a televised speech after a Cabinet meeting, Erdogan accused opposition leader Ozgur Ozel, who had called for peaceful protests, of disrupting public order instead of addressing the corruption allegations. He also warned that Ozel would be held accountable for the unrest.

“I have made this call several times before, and today, I am repeating it: Stop disturbing our citizens’ peace with provocations. If you have the courage, account for the corruption, theft, bribes taken, and irregularities committed,” Erdogan stated. Erdogan further said, “Of course, there will be political accountability for these actions in parliament and legal accountability in court.”

For the sixth night in a row, Ozel addressed demonstrators outside city hall, urging them to boycott certain pro-government companies and TV channels. He also challenged President Erdogan and Istanbul’s chief public prosecutor to broadcast Imamoglu’s trial live on state television, allowing the jailed mayor to defend himself and expose false accusations. About 15 minutes after Ozel spoke, police used tear gas and plastic pellets to disperse the protesters.

Imamoglu was transferred to Silivri prison, west of Istanbul. At the same time, more than 1.7 million members of his opposition party, the CHP, held a primary election, officially endorsing him as their presidential candidate. The party also reported that millions of non-members participated in a "solidarity ballot." Along with Imamoglu, 47 others were jailed pending trial, including a key aide and two district mayors from Istanbul. One of the mayors was replaced with a government appointee. Another 44 suspects were released under judicial supervision.

Thousands of protesters gathered outside Istanbul’s city hall, expressing frustration over what they view as an attack on democratic freedoms. Tensions escalated when police fired rubber bullets and tear gas just minutes after opposition leader Ozel finished his daily address. Many protesters, particularly young people who covered their faces to avoid being identified, voiced their anger at both the police and President Erdogan. However, they also discouraged escalations, booing those who threw bottles and flares at security forces to prevent a repeat of the violent police crackdown seen on Sunday.

A female demonstrator, who chose to remain anonymous out of fear of detention, expressed her frustration, saying, “I think it can’t get any worse than this. We will never accept this. If necessary, I will come every day.” Others shared her sentiment. An older male protester, who also wished to stay anonymous, stated, “There is a coup against our democracy right now. We are here for our children, for the youth. We want them to be free so this country can be more beautiful.”

Many protesters stated that their demonstration was not in support of any particular politician but was a stand for the principles of the Turkish Republic.

“I would like to say my name, but I cannot,” one man expressed. “The reason I came here is not Ozel or Imamoglu. I came here to defend my own rights as the youth of Ataturk (founder of the Turkish Republic) ”.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that 43 protesters were detained on Monday and strongly condemned what he described as “vile insults” directed at Erdogan and his late mother. He vowed that authorities would not tolerate “such indecency.” Meanwhile, Ali Mahir Basarir, a legislator from the main opposition Republican People’s Party, told the AP that authorities were using “pre-determined provocateurs” as a pretext for crackdowns.

“They start attacking the protesters before the rally is over,” he stated. “All they want is a good future. They are exercising their constitutional rights.” He also urged the police to treat protesters fairly.

Authorities have launched an investigation into Ankara’s mayor, a well-known opposition leader, over allegations of misusing public funds to organise 33 concerts, the municipality announced on Monday. Imamoglu first won the mayoral election in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, in March 2019, dealing a significant setback to President Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party, which had controlled the city for 25 years. Erdogan’s party challenged the election results, citing irregularities, leading to a re-run a few months later. Despite the re-election, Imamoglu secured another victory, reinforcing his position as mayor. He maintained his seat in last year’s local elections, during which his party, the CHP, gained ground against Erdogan’s ruling party.