The Istanbul headquarters of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) was placed under a police blockade starting Sunday (September 7).

The move follows a recent decision by a Turkish court to remove the party’s Istanbul district leadership from office amidst allegations of irregularities in the party’s 2023 leadership selection process. Critics see the move as a politically-motivated attempt to handicap Turkey’s largest opposition party.

On Sunday, CHP’s Istanbul district youth wing had issued a call for supporters to come gather at the headquarters in order to prevent the arrival of Gürsel Tekin, the government-appointed trustee tasked with leading the party’s Istanbul district branch following the removal of previous chairman Özgür Çelik and other top brass. Tekin was due to take office Monday (September 8).

Following the call from the CHP youth wing, the Istanbul Governorship announced the police blockade as well as a ban on demonstrations in six districts of the city.

After the announcement of the decision to impose a police blockade, district head Özgür Çelik and CHP Chairman Özgür Özel issued a call for citizens to come gather at the building.

Around 11:00pm Sunday evening, a crowd of demonstrators began to assemble outside the district headquarters, attempting to break the police blockade and enter the building.

Photos and videos posted on social media showed protestors clashing with rows of police in front of the building as police deployed tear gas.

Early Monday morning, reports indicated that police forces were constructing new barricades in front of the headquarters building, and continuing to block entrances and exits. Videos showed protestors attempting to prevent the unloading of new barricades from........

© Medyascope