Turkey Clamps Down On Media As Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu’s Jailing Sparks Decade’s Biggest Protests

On Thursday, Turkey dismissed what it called "biased" foreign remarks regarding the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and the ensuing protests, which have seen nearly 1,900 individuals detained since nationwide demonstrations kicked off eight days ago.

Following the arrest and subsequent release of seven local journalists reporting on the rallies, the BBC reported that its correspondent, Mark Lowen, had been deported by Turkish authorities after being removed from his Istanbul hotel while covering the unrest.

The BBC noted that Lowen was accused of "being a threat to public order," a move that has heightened concerns among rights groups about press freedom in the country.

Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan's chief political adversary and a figure who outstrips him in some polls, was imprisoned pending trial on graft charges on Sunday, reported Reuters.

His detention sparked the largest anti-government protests in a decade, resulting in widespread arrests across Turkey.

Imamoglu's Republican People's Party (CHP), alongside other opposition groups, rights organisations, and Western nations, have labelled the case against the mayor-who has been sacked from his position due to the charges-as a politically motivated attempt to neutralise a key electoral rival to Erdogan.

The Turkish government insists it exerts no influence over the judiciary, maintaining that the courts operate independently. Addressing international media in Istanbul, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc urged Turkey's European allies to adopt a "common-sense" approach, arguing that the severity of the allegations against Imamoglu justified his arrest. "

We don't want the arrest of any politician, but if there is evidence of a violation then it can happen," Tunc stated via a translator. "If we look at the gravity of the allegations, and as there is risk that evidence can be concealed, the judiciary has made a reasonable decision," he added.

French President Emmanuel Macron later accused the Turkish government of orchestrating "systematic attacks" on freedoms. "(Europe) needs a Turkey that assumes its responsibilities for European security, (and) continues on its democratic path by respecting the commitments it has made," he remarked.

The CHP has encouraged Turks to keep protesting, announcing plans for rallies and gatherings in Istanbul and beyond. Erdogan has brushed off the demonstrations as a "performance" and threatened legal repercussions for participants.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that 1,879 people had been detained since the protests began last Wednesday, with 260 remanded in custody pending trial, 489 released, and 662 still under processing. He also noted that 150 police officers had been injured.

Rights groups have called on Turkey to investigate claims of excessive police force in breaking up largely peaceful crowds and to permit the protests to continue. Western leaders have warned that the case signals a decline in democratic standards.

When questioned about the brief detention of journalists in Istanbul, including an Agence France Presse photographer, Tunc dismissed perceptions of Turkey mistreating reporters, insisting that the country does not imprison journalists.

However, Reporters Without Borders ranked Turkey 158th out of 180 nations in its 2024 press freedom index, highlighting that around 90% of the country's media is under government sway, driving citizens towards opposition or independent outlets. Tunc rejected the index as untruthful.

No Impunity

Imamoglu's detention on March 19 followed a university's cancellation of his diploma-a prerequisite for presidential candidacy-just a day earlier. It also came days before his formal selection as the CHP's presidential candidate for the next election, amid a prolonged legal clampdown on the opposition, particularly targeting Imamoglu.

Asked about the timing, Tunc maintained that the judiciary focuses solely on criminal evidence, adding that elected status does not grant immunity.

He also claimed Erdogan was not being briefed on Imamoglu's case due to its confidentiality, despite the president's repeated public accusations of corruption against the CHP and its municipalities.

The next elections are slated for 2028, and with Erdogan-dominant in Turkish politics for over two decades-having reached his term limit, he would need parliament to call early elections or amend the constitution to run again.

On Wednesday, Istanbul's opposition-led municipality elected CHP member Nuri Aslan as interim mayor to oversee Turkey's largest city for the rest of Imamoglu's term, thwarting government efforts to install a trustee, a practice it has employed in other regions for years.

Separately, Turkey's RTUK media regulator announced penalties on Thursday against four opposition TV channels for their coverage of Imamoglu's case, accusing them of stirring "hatred and hostility." SZC TV was ordered to suspend broadcasting for 10 days, with RTUK cautioning that a third breach could lead to its licence being revoked. Halk TV, Tele1, and Now TV faced fines and programme suspensions.

"We are being punished for reporting, for trying to make the voices of the people on the streets heard, for broadcasting the recent largest public gatherings that are taking place in Turkey," SZC TV Editor-in-Chief Ozgur Cakmakci told Reuters.

"I don't think it makes any sense. We are being punished for just doing our job."

That evening, the CHP held a protest outside RTUK's Ankara headquarters, demanding the penalties be lifted.

Since Imamoglu's arrest, Turkish financial markets have taken a hit, prompting the central bank to dip into reserves to prop up the lira. The government has downplayed the fluctuations as short-lived, while the bank insists the economy's fundamentals remain intact but will implement further measures if necessary to stabilise financial markets.