Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said protests over the jailing of Istanbul’s Mayor had become a “movement of violence” and that the main opposition party would be held accountable for injured police officers and damage to property.
The detention on March 19 of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Erdogan’s main political rival, has triggered the biggest street protests in Turkey in more than a decade. On March 23, a court jailed him, pending trial, on corruption charges that he denies.
Imamoglu’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and its supporters said the charges against him were politically motivated and undemocratic, which Erdogan’s government has denied.
Despite a ban imposed on street gatherings in many cities, the mostly peaceful anti-government demonstrations continued for a sixth consecutive night on March 24, with hundreds of thousands taking part and CHP leader Ozgur Ozel repeating a call for the nationwide protests to continue.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Erdogan said the CHP should stop “provoking” citizens.
“As a nation, we followed with surprise the events that emerged after the main opposition leader’s call to take to the streets following an Istanbul-based corruption operation turned into a movement of violence,” the 71-year-old president said.
“The main opposition is responsible for our injured police officers, the broken windows of our shopkeepers, and the damaged public property.
“They will be held accountable for all this, politically in parliament and legally by the judiciary,” he said.
Earlier, interior minister Ali Yerlikaya accused some protesters of “terrorising” the streets and threatening national security. He said 1,133 people had been detained during five days of protests and that 123 police officers had been injured.
A CHP delegation met Istanbul’s governor to discuss the police crackdown on the protesters. The party’s Istanbul head Ozgur Celik said police intervention on March 23 had been the most violent so far, with many people being hospitalised.
Addressing hundreds of thousands of people in front of the Istanbul Municipality headquarters in Sarachane again, CHP leader Ozel repeated a call to boycott media, brands and stores he called pro-Erdogan, adding all charges against Imamoglu were baseless, unfounded and without evidence.
“Whoever Tayyip Erdogan unjustly puts in jail, this square is defending them, for democracy and for Turkey,” said Ozel, who also called for continued protests as crowds waved flags and chanted slogans calling for the government to resign.
Ozel added his party would also appeal for Imamoglu to be released pending trial and for his trial to be broadcast on the TRT State broadcaster.
He also challenged Erdogan to a televised debate, while calling on protesters to maintain public order and avoid clashes.
Ahead of Ozel’s address, at the historic Galata Bridge in Istanbul, a sit-in protest blocked traffic on both sides of the bridge, while others gathered elsewhere in the city, in Ankara and other cities.
Moments after Ozel finished his speech, police fired pellets and tear gas and used water cannon to disperse demonstrators in Istanbul, while detaining several people. In Ankara, protesters stood in front of trucks carrying water canons and asked police to let them march in peace.
Imamoglu, 54, was jailed pending trial on March 30, as the CHP held a primary election to name him presidential candidate. Some 15 million votes were cast in support of the Mayor.
News of Imamoglu’s arrest covered the front pages of Turkish newspapers on March 24, with opposition media suggesting the Mayor was arrested for being the most credible challenger to Erdogan.
His supporters said his jailing demonstrated a lack of justice in Turkey.
“I think there is an injustice committed against Imamoglu. They put the man in prison for no reason,” said Adem Bali, a 22-year-old construction worker.
Rights groups and European countries said Imamoglu’s arrest marked democratic backsliding and criticised police intervention. Germany said it made Turkey’s pursuit of European Union membership, which it has targeted for decades, sound “increasingly hollow”.
A meeting of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee was postponed on March 24 after the EU side “concluded that current circumstances are not conducive” to holding the meeting, it said in a statement.
A CHP official said on the same day that the party would in the next few days appeal a decision by the Istanbul University to annul Imamoglu’s diploma – required for eligibility in a presidential run – and added lawyers were working on appeals to the Mayor’s arrest as well.
Erdogan, who has dominated Turkish politics for more than two decades and faced no immediate tests at the ballot box, said the events of the past few days showed that the CHP was not fit to run local municipalities, let alone the nation.
He also sought to reassure investors who have recently sold off Turkish assets following news of Imamoglu’s detention, sending stocks, bonds and the lira currency tumbling and prompting the central bank to intervene with foreign exchange sales and other stabilising measures.
“Our main priority is protecting macrofinancial stability. The Treasury and finance ministry, central bank, all relevant institutions, with our support, are working day and night in full co-ordination, taking every necessary step,” Erdogan said.
The Istanbul bourse benchmark index .XU100pared back some losses on March 24 after suffering a fall of 16.6 per cent a few days previously, its worst drop since the global financial crisis in October 2008.
Analysts have said they expected a prolonged period of political turmoil and uncertainty.
“The protests mark the most significant and widespread public reaction in over a decade, making the trajectory of events difficult to predict,” said Wolfango Piccoli, co-president of Teneo consultancy.
“Once again, President Erdogan’s political agenda has inflicted serious damage on Turkey’s economic outlook.”
