Thousands of supporters of jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu have gathered outside the courthouse where the opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing another interrogation on charges of corruption and links to terrorists.
The detention of a prominent opposition politician this week has heightened political tensions and sparked widespread protests across Turkey, with protesters taking to the streets in cities across the country to voice their discontent.
His arrest is widely seen as a politically motivated attempt to remove Imamoglu from the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for 2028. Government officials deny the charges and say Turkey's judiciary functions independently.
The protests were largely peaceful, but a group of demonstrators trying to break through barricades and reach Istanbul's central square threw flares, rocks and other objects at police, who responded with pepper spray. Some protesters said they were shot with rubber bullets.
Law enforcement agencies used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters in Ankara.
Earlier, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said 343 people were detained during protests in major cities on Friday evening, adding: “We will not show any tolerance to those who try to disturb public order, threaten the peace and security of citizens, sow chaos and provoke.”
Imamoglu was arrested on Wednesday after a dawn raid on his residence on charges of financial crimes and links to Kurdish militants. Dozens of other influential figures, including two district mayors, were also detained.
Istanbul police used pepper spray, tear gas and rubber bullets on Friday to push back hundreds of protesters who tried to breach a barricade in front of the city's historic aqueduct, throwing flares, rocks and other objects at them.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
