Sixth night of protests in Turkey as Erdogan hits out at unrest

In Turkey, protests have been ongoing for six consecutive nights, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attributing the unrest to opposition parties that he claims are inciting a 'movement of violence. ' The demonstrations began in Istanbul when Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is a significant political rival to Erdogan, was detained on corruption charges. Imamoglu has asserted that these allegations are politically motivated, a claim that Erdogan has denied. The Republican People's Party (CHP), which has nominated Imamoglu as its presidential candidate for the upcoming 2028 election, announced that the protests would conclude on Tuesday, although they did not specify what actions would follow. Erdogan has condemned the protests as 'evil' and accused the opposition of disrupting the peace of the citizens through provocations. Speaking from Ankara, the capital of Turkey, Erdogan urged the protests to cease, stating that instead of addressing the allegations, opposition parties have made some of the most disgraceful and unlawful statements in the history of Turkish politics over the past five days. On Monday, water cannon vehicles were spotted near the city hall, but the protests appeared to remain largely peaceful, with no incidents of violence similar to those witnessed on Sunday. A protester named Lydia expressed to AFP that the Turkish authorities were 'hunting us like pests,' adding that they were sprayed with pepper spray as if they were insects. Young people, many of whom have only known Erdogan's government, have played a crucial role in the protests. They hold diverse political views and do not seem to align with any specific political movement. While they are rallying against the government, they are also critical of the opposition. When asked about her fears regarding the potential consequences of protesting, one woman told the BBC, 'There is nothing left to lose. ' Another protester, a 25-year-old woman who participated in the protests on Sunday, admitted that she was initially afraid but has since transformed that fear into anger. According to figures released before Monday evening's gatherings, the Turkish government reported that 1,133 individuals had been arrested since the protests began. With the CHP seemingly concluding its rallies in Istanbul, it remains uncertain whether other spontaneous protests will continue. CHP leader Ozgur Ozel addressed the thousands gathered on Monday night, declaring that the demonstration was 'an act of defiance against fascism. ' Ozel announced his intention to visit Imamoglu in jail on Tuesday and stated that the CHP would appeal for his release pending trial, as well as request that his trial be broadcast live on state television. Imamoglu was confirmed as the CHP's candidate for the presidential election in 2028 on Monday, despite being in custody. This selection was largely symbolic, as he was the only candidate running. He had spent the previous night in jail after being formally arrested and charged with serious offenses, including 'establishing and managing a criminal organization, taking bribes, extortion, unlawfully recording personal data, and rigging a tender. ' He was also suspended from his position as mayor. Prosecutors had accused him of 'aiding an armed terrorist organization,' but this charge was not included in the formal accusations. Prior to his detention, Istanbul University announced that it would revoke Imamoglu's degree. If this decision is upheld, it could jeopardize his presidential candidacy, as the Turkish constitution mandates that presidents must have completed higher education. In a post on social media over the weekend, Imamoglu stated that he would 'never bow' and criticized his arrest as a 'black stain on our democracy. ' His wife, Dilek Kaya Imamoglu, addressed demonstrators outside Istanbul's city hall, asserting that the 'injustice' her husband faced resonated with the conscience of the people. Much of the protesters' anger is directed at Erdogan and his administration. A 22-year-old university student named Irmak told the BBC World Service at a demonstration in the Sarachane area of Istanbul, 'I don't know what he did 20 years ago, but nowadays, he is just a dictator. ' Irmak and her friends, Ozge and Elif, activated the location-sharing feature on their phones, fearing potential police detainment. These demonstrations have been the largest in Turkey since the Gezi protests of 2013, which began in Istanbul over the demolition of a local park. While the protests have largely remained peaceful, on Sunday, police officers resorted to using water cannons and pepper spray as clashes erupted. 'We are the fruits of the trees of the Gezis,' Irmak stated. 'We are here to protect democracy. It's not just about Ekrem Imamoglu - it's about Turkey's democracy. ' Lydia, another protester, remarked that Turkish authorities 'spray pepper spray on us like insecticides. ' Imamoglu was among more than 100 individuals detained last week as part of an investigation, with others arrested including politicians, journalists, and businessmen. 'We are not accepting this injustice,' Mustafa, a protester, told the BBC. 'We want democracy and we want our friends back because Imamoglu is not the only one behind bars right now. ' He added, 'We want to re-establish democracy in this country and we want to save the republic from this authoritarian populist regime. And for the short term, we just want our mayor back, we want our friends back. ' Imamoglu's arrest does not prevent him from running for president, but if he is convicted of any of the charges against him, he will be unable to do so. The opposition mayor is viewed as one of Erdogan's most formidable challengers, who has held office in Turkey for 22 years, both as prime minister and president. Erdogan's term is set to expire in 2028, and under current regulations, he cannot run again; however, he could call for an early election or attempt to amend the constitution to extend his time in power. The Turkish Ministry of Justice has criticized those linking Erdogan to the arrests and has insisted on its judicial independence.