9 Journalists Covering Demo Arrests Istanbul Mayor Seteru Erdogan Detained By Police

JAKARTA - Turkish authorities have detained nine journalists who covered last night's protests in several cities over the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. It is not clear why the journalists were detained.

A Turkish court on Sunday jailed Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan's main political competitor, pending trial on corruption charges in an act that sparked the country's biggest protests in more than a decade.

Despite the ban on gathering on roads in many cities, largely peaceful anti-government demonstrations have been held for the fifth straight night on Sunday, January 23.

Reported by Reuters on Monday, March 24, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) called for protests against the court's decision against Immoglu, which they refer to as politicized and undemocratic.

The government denies the investigation as politically motivated and says the court is independent.

Immoglu denied the accusations he faced by calling "unimaginable accusations and slander" and calling for national protests.

In a speech in front of the city government building in the Sarachane district of Istanbul, CHP leader Ozgur Ozel said they would continue the protests until Imamoglu is released.

An Agence France Presse (AFP) photographer staff is among detained journalists, the union said in a post on X.