Turkey, Mass Arrests in Anti-Government Protests on Charges of 'Defaming the President'

Large-Scale Protests Continue for Six Consecutive Days in Istanbul and Other Cities

The Turkish authorities have arrested a large number of citizens participating in anti-government protests on charges of defaming Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, the President of Turkey.

According to the Turkish Ministry of Interior on the 25th (local time), the police detained 43 people who participated in the protest in front of Istanbul City Hall the previous night and are conducting investigations.

On the evening of the 24th (local time), police surrounded protesters marching in front of Istanbul City Hall. Photo by Yonhap News.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya criticized, "They have committed a vile insult to our president, as well as to his mother and family," adding, "This is a despicable attack that does not align with national and moral values."

Fahrettin Altun, Director of Communications at the Presidential Office, also wrote on the social networking service X, "There must be consequences for vile insults," and "We know well who is inciting insulting language." He continued, "I warn the cowardly individuals and groups who encourage insults against our president, who was elected by the will of the Turkish people and works tirelessly day and night," adding, "Do not provoke the youth."

Turkish authorities detained Ekrem ?mamo?lu, the Istanbul Mayor and a leading presidential candidate of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), on the 19th, and protests by his supporters against this detention are spreading. Large-scale anti-government protests have continued for six consecutive days in major cities such as Istanbul and Ankara.

The Ministry of Interior stated the previous day that the protesters injured police officers using Molotov cocktails, knives, and acidic liquids, and announced the arrest of 1,133 people, categorizing the opposition supporters' actions as illegal and violent, and responding strongly.