Several roads have been closed, several social media platforms have been restricted, and a four-day demonstration ban has been introduced in an attempt to block the protest, Euronows reported.
However, despite the ban, many gathered outside the police headquarters in Istanbul, city hall, and the Republican People’s Party (CHP) headquarters in Imamol.
One protester called the arrest “illegal” and “baseless.”
“This is not a democracy. It’s a fake of democracy. People don’t deserve this. We are of course upset. As humans, we are upset,” he said.
Riot police cut off the road leading to Batan’s security department, where the mayor was taken away after his arrest.
Imamol is a popular opposition leader and a major rival to President Recept Tayyip Erdogan. A total of 100 people have been arrested, including the mayor and several other prominent figures.
Imamol and his aides are suspected of corruption, including fear and fraud. It also supports the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a banned party classified as a terrorist organization by Ankara, Washington and other Turkish allies.
Imamol’s arrest lies in a wider crackdown on opposition figures who have been criticized as politically motivated to silence the opposition.
A day ago, Istanbul University revoked its mayor’s bachelor’s degree. This requires election management under Turkish law.
Turkish authority seized a construction company jointly owned by the mayor of Istanbul, who was detained, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said.
MNA