Turkish opposition politicians scuffle with police (VIDEOS)

Supporters of detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu attempted to break through a security barrier erected by police inside a courthouse on Sunday.

Lawmakers from the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) scuffled with officers and dismantled a barricade in the lobby.

Cemal Enginyurt, an MP from the CHP, argued that by setting up barricades, the authorities were “taking away the right of the legislators to meet with their friends, to greet Ekrem Imamoglu.”

Imamoglu was taken to the courthouse earlier, where the judge is expected to rule on the prosecution’s request to arrest him on corruption and terrorism charges.

The CHP has urged people to defy the ban on rallies in Istanbul and take to the streets. Large demonstrations took place in Istanbul, Ankara and other major cities on Saturday. In some instances, police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowds.

Around 320 people were detained on Friday in connection to the protests in various cities. According to NTV, 56 people have been detained for making “provocative” posts on social media.

Imamoglu, who ran for vice president in the 2023 presidential election, was detained on Wednesday.

The prosecution alleges that he was taking bribes and aiding the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which is designated as a terrorist group in Türkiye. The mayor has denied any wrongdoing and insists that the charges are politically motivated.