Turkish court jails Istanbul mayor as protests turn violent

Istanbul — A Turkish court jailed Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Sunday pending trial on corruption charges, in a move that is likely to stoke the country’s biggest protests against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government in more than decade.

The decision to send Imamoglu, Erdogan’s main political rival, to prison comes after the main opposition party, European leaders and tens of thousands of protesters criticised the actions against him as politicised and undemocratic.

The court said Imamoglu and at least 20 others were jailed as part of a corruption investigation, one of two that were opened against him last week.

The court decided to release the mayor under judicial control measures over a separate terrorism-related charge, broadcasters Halk TV and AHaber reported, potentially blocking the government from appointing a trustee to run the country’s largest city.

Imamoglu, who leads Erdogan in some polls, has denied the charges, calling them “unimaginable accusations and slanders”.

Also on Sunday members of his Republican People’s Party (CHP), the main opposition against Erdogan’s ruling alliance, and others were voting to select Imamoglu as the CHP’s candidate for the next presidential election.

No general election is scheduled until 2028. But if Erdogan, who has led Turkey for 22 years, is to run again, parliament would need to back an earlier election since the president will have reached his limit by that date.

Ankara mayor Mansur Yavaş, also of the CHP, said on Sunday jailing Imamoglu was a disgrace for the judicial system.

The government has denied that the investigations are politically motivated and insists the courts are independent. It has warned against protests, especially given a nationwide ban on street gatherings that was extended on Saturday for four more days.

On Saturday, thousands gathered outside the Istanbul municipality building and the main court, with hundreds of police stationed at both places using tear gas and pepper spray pellets to disperse protesters, as the crowd hurled firecrackers and other objects at them.

Though most demonstrations have been peaceful, protesters also clashed with police in the western coastal province of Izmir and the capital Ankara for a third night, with police firing water cannon at the crowds.

Turkish authorities have detained 323 people during protests over the investigation, interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Sunday.

Reuters