The head of Turkey's main opposition party visited jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Tuesday after six nights of mass protests demanding his release.
Mr Imamoglu, who was arrested on March 19 on corruption charges, is seen as the main opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's 22-year rule.
His arrest was widely seen as politically motivated and sparked demonstrations across the country, some of which turned violent.
The government insists that Turkey's judiciary is independent and free from political influence.
Ozgur Ozel, the leader of Mr Imamoglu's Republican People's Party (CHP), arrived at Silivri prison, west of Istanbul, in a convoy of cars on Tuesday morning.
After the two-hour meeting, Mr Ozel told reporters that he was “ashamed, on behalf of those who govern Turkey, of the atmosphere I find myself in and the situation Turkey finds itself in.”
He described Mr Imamoglu and two CHP district mayors in prison, whom he also met, as “three lions inside, standing proud, with their heads held high… proud of themselves, their families, their colleagues, and not afraid.”
Mr Ozel announced the previous evening that the Republican People's Party would hold its final rally outside Istanbul City Hall on Tuesday evening, calling on people to join it.
He also said the party would appoint a municipal council member to the mayoral post to replace Mr. Imamoglu, ruling out the possibility of a state appointment.
Meanwhile, Turkish authorities are tightening measures against journalists amid growing protests.
The Media and Legal Studies Association, a civil society group, said eight journalists detained “for covering protests in Istanbul” banned by the government were taken to the Caglayan courthouse. They are charged with “violating the law on assemblies and demonstrations,” the group said.
Media unions condemned the arrests as “an attack on press freedom and the right of people to know the truth.”
Demonstrations in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, as well as in smaller towns and villages across Turkey, were largely peaceful, with protesters demanding the release of Mr. Imamoglu and an end to the democratic backsliding.
But some of them turned violent, with police using water cannons, tear gas and pepper spray, and firing plastic pellets at protesters, some of whom threw rocks, fireworks and other objects at riot police.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Tuesday morning that police had detained 43 “provocateurs” for what he called “vile insults” hurled at Mr. Erdogan and his family at the protests. Some 1,133 protesters were detained between Wednesday and Sunday, he said earlier.
Mr. Ozel and Mr. Imamoglu's social media accounts posted messages condemning the insults against Mr. Erdogan's mother.
Mr Imamoglu was jailed on suspicion of running a criminal organisation, accepting bribes, extortion, illegally recording personal data and bid rigging – charges he denies. He also faces prosecution on terrorism-related charges and was suspended from his post as a “temporary measure”.
Along with Mr Imamoglu, 47 other people are in prison awaiting trial, including a key aide and two Istanbul district mayors.
Although Turkey does not hold new elections until 2028, there is a reasonable chance that Mr Erdogan will call an early vote to seek another term.
Mr Imamoglu was approved as the CHP candidate and has performed well in recent polls, competing against Mr Erdogan.
In March 2019, he was elected mayor of Turkey's largest city, a major blow to Mr. Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party, which, along with its predecessors, had controlled Istanbul for a quarter of a century.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
