Thousands gathered outside İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) headquarters in the Fatih district late yesterday to protest the detention of Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and more than 100 others, including district mayors and other officials.
People began arriving in the early morning hours, and the crowd grew steadily after Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel called for a rally at 8.30 pm.
İstanbul mayor detained on multiple charges as he prepared to challenge Erdoğan for presidency
19 March 2025
Protesters chanted slogans, including “Dictator Tayyip,” “Salvation is in the streets, not at the ballot box,” and “No salvation alone, either all of us or none of us.”
Several politicians and party representatives attended the demonstration, including Musavat Dervişoğlu, leader of the Good (İYİ) Party. CHP lawmakers and mayors were present at the municipal hall from the morning.
— bianet (@bianet_org) March 19, 2025
‘We don’t want to live in fear’
Among the demonstrators was an 18-year-old law student who expressed frustration over the state of justice in Turkey.
“I am studying law in a country where there is no rule of law,” they said. “Unlawfulness is everywhere. The constitution is being violated. Every day, someone is arrested. Tomorrow, we don’t know who it will be. Maybe even we will be arrested, just for being here. We don’t want to live in fear. We don’t want to spend our youth under this government.”
— bianet (@bianet_org) March 19, 2025
Another protester who came alone to show support said, “I am here for justice. The legal system has collapsed. We must fight for everyone’s rights. The people’s reaction can change everything.”
An elderly citizen from Zeytinburnu who had come early in the morning voiced concerns about the country’s direction. “The country is finished. The economy and the judiciary have collapsed. It’s like a truck with failed brakes,” they said.
Source: BIANET
