Arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu mocks Tayyip Erdogan from prison, while the protests in his support continue. The Istanbul mayor, in his new message to X, characteristically states "I will continue to commit the crime of opening kindergartens."
The Istanbul chief prosecutor's office has accused Imamoglu of being the "leader of a criminal organization," accusing him of corruption, extortion, bribery and money laundering related to contracts for municipal projects. Prosecutors also accuse him of helping the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) by forming an electoral alliance with the pro-Kurdish People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) in the 2024 municipal elections.
Ekrem Imamoglu's new message in detail
"An investigation has been launched against me for opening a kindergarten. I would like to give a statement, but I am currently in custody, otherwise I would gladly defend the kindergartens we built for the children of this city with all my might. We will continue to commit the crime of opening kindergartens. I entrust the kindergartens of our children, who are our future, to our nation."
In the shadow of major incidents in Istanbul, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), Özgür Özel, Imamoğlu's party, called on the people to take to the streets to resist the government and support the popular mayor.
Turkish police used rubber bullets and tear gas on Thursday night against the crowd that had gathered in front of Istanbul's city hall, following a call from the CHP party.
Protesters are staging new demonstrations today, Friday, which are set to continue in the coming days. The Interior Ministry said six police officers were injured in the city due to the incidents.
Source: skai.gr
