Turkey arrests dozens for online

Authorities in Turkey have arrested dozens for “provocative” positions in social media after the Mayor Istanbul’s mayor on Wednesday.

Imomoglu was one of the more than 100 people conducted on charges, including corruption and assistance to terrorist groups – a relocation that caused protests in Istanbul and the Ankara capital.

Imomoglu is a member of the secular Republican People’s Party (CHP), is a key competitor to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and was appointed presidential candidate for the 2028 election in the end of this week.

Critics characterize his arrest as a “coup” and plan further demonstrations, despite the fact that the Governor Istanbul introduced a four -day ban on protests.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikai announced on Thursday morning that police determined 261 “executives’ executives” on the Internet.

They allegedly placed a content that violated the laws on “incitement of the public for hatred and hostility” and “inciting the crime.”

“Thirty-seven suspects were caught, and efforts continue to catch other suspects,” he said, adding that more than 18.6 million posts appeared on the Internet on Wednesday to 0600 (0300 GMT).

But these efforts have not yet been holding back demonstrators.

Tens of thousands gathered outside the Istanbul Town Hall on Wednesday. Some demanded the government’s resignation and others chanted “Erdogan, dictator”.

CHP leader Ozgur Ozel addressed the supporters at one rally and urged them to “fill the streets”. The party’s press secretary said that on Thursday, 2030 (1730 GT), a crowd outside the hall would be coming out of the hall again.

Police collided with protesters in several places, shooting from tear gas and pepper.

Turkish authorities also restricted the use of social media across the country after arrests on Wednesday, including WhatsApp use According to UK Netblocks.

Dozens of police officers were involved in Imomoglu’s home in Istanbul on Wednesday morning.

He was one of 106 people detained in the operation.

The arrests became part of major nationwide repression in recent months, focusing on opposition politicians, municipalities, journalists and figures in the entertainment industry.

Local prosecutors also announced on Thursday that they confiscated a construction campaign owned by Istanbul’s mayor within the investigation of alleged financial crimes.

Opposition figures say arrests are politically motivated. But the Ministry of Justice criticized those who associated Erdogan with arrests on Wednesday and insisted on their judicial independence.

Last year, Imomoglu won the second term as Mayor Istanbul when his party CHP swam the local elections there and Ankara.

For the first time after President Erdogan came to power, his party threatened across the country in the ballot box.

The election was also a personal blow for the president who grew up and became the mayor of Istanbul to rise to power.

Erdogan has held the post over the past 22 years, both the Prime Minister and the Turkish president. Due to the restriction time, he cannot run for the post in 2028, unless he changed the Constitution.

The choice of presidential candidate CHP, in which Imomoglu is the only person working on Sunday.

Opposition groups are now calling for demonstrations that day.