Istanbul, 24 March 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Numerous arrests have been made in connection with protests against the imprisonment of leading Turkish opposition politician Ekrem İmamoğlu, the country's interior minister said on Monday.

A total of 1,133 suspects had been detained during "illegal demonstrations" between Wednesday and Sunday, Ali Yerlikaya posted on X.

Meanwhile, the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) said that 10 journalists and photographers had been detained during raids on Monday morning.

The Disk-Basin-Is media trade union called the move a government response to the ongoing protests against the imprisonment of the opposition CHP politician.

The union called it an "attack on press freedom and the people's right to know the truth," in a post on X.

Suspended Istanbul mayor

İmamoğlu, widely seen as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's main rival, was detained on Wednesday on charges of corruption and terrorism.

On Sunday, a court ordered him to be held in pre-trial detention and he was suspended from his position as mayor of Istanbul.

Tens of thousands of people defied bans and took to the streets in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and other cities, leading to clashes between security forces and demonstrators. Police reportedly used water cannon and tear gas late on Sunday evening.

Yerlikaya said 123 police officers had been injured during the nationwide demonstrations. He said items such as acid, stones, sticks, fireworks, axes and knives were confiscated.

Germany condemns arrest

The German government criticized İmamoğlu's imprisonment and the suspension of his mayoral duties on Monday, with spokesman Steffen Hebestreit calling the move "absolutely unacceptable."

"This must now be clarified very quickly and very transparently," Hebestreit demanded. The recent developments were "a bad sign for democracy in Turkey" as well as for the future of German-Turkish relations, he added.

The Turkish ambassador to Germany was informed of Berlin's position during a meeting at the Foreign Office on Monday morning.

Charges rejected

İmamoğlu has vehemently denied the allegations and accuses the government of attempting to sideline him as a political rival.

The German government has not yet considered specific consequences for his imprisonment, such as halting arms exports to Turkey.

For now, Berlin is waiting to see how Ankara responds to the demand for clarification, Hebestreit said, adding: "Then further questions may need to be addressed."

Photo: EPA