Istanbul: Turkey dismissed international statements deemed biased regarding the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and the ensuing protests across various parts of the country. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tun§, speaking at a press conference in Istanbul, emphasized that Ankara has urged its European partners to exercise “common sense,” underscoring that the charges against Imamoglu are serious enough to warrant his arrest.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Tun§ stated, “We don’t want to arrest any politician, but if there is evidence of a violation, it can happen.” He highlighted that the judiciary’s focus is solely on criminal reports, and being an elected official does not exempt Imamoglu from facing justice.

Turkish security authorities had previously announced Imamoglu’s arrest on the 19th of this month, implicating him in leading a gang involved in corruption and bribery. A circular from these authorities revealed that the arrests extended to several officials from the Istanbul Municipality and its affiliated municipalities, all members of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).

In response to the arrest, Turkish security forces implemented measures including a ban on gatherings and demonstrations in Istanbul, alongside restrictions on internet and social media usage, aiming to curb potential protest movements. The CHP, along with other opposition parties, human rights organizations, and Western nations, described the case against Imamoglu as a politically motivated maneuver to neutralize a potential electoral challenger to Erdogan.

The CHP has urged citizens to persist in protesting, planning to organize marches and rallies in various parts of Istanbul and beyond. Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed the protests as a “show” and cautioned demonstrators of potential legal repercussions. He affirmed that further corruption investigations could target the CHP, reiterating his stance against what he termed “street terrorism.”

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported the arrest of 1,879 individuals since the protests began last week, with courts ordering 260 of them detained pending trial. Additionally, 489 have been released, and 662 remain under investigation. Yerlikaya noted that 150 police officers sustained injuries during the protests.