Istanbul has become the epicenter of political unrest as riot police clashed with protesters rallying in support of Ekrem Imamoglu, the city’s mayor, who was arrested on corruption and terrorism-related charges. Demonstrators gathered on March 23 for the fifth consecutive day, defying a ban on rallies as tensions between the opposition and the Turkish government continue to escalate. While some protests remained peaceful, others saw violent confrontations between citizens and law enforcement officers.

Eyewitnesses and video footage from the scene revealed police in riot gear forcibly dispersing crowds outside Istanbul’s city hall. Officers tackled demonstrators to the ground, using batons to strike them and delivering kicks to subdued individuals. The aggressive police response was widely condemned by human rights organizations and opposition figures, who argued that the government was using force to silence dissent.

The Turkish Interior Ministry justified the crackdown by claiming that some demonstrators had attacked police officers. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated in a post on X that authorities would not tolerate acts of “vandalism or threats to the peace and security of our nation.” However, opposition leaders rejected these claims,........

© Blitz