{"id":44261,"date":"2026-03-20T06:49:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T06:49:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/44261\/"},"modified":"2026-03-20T06:49:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T06:49:12","slug":"protests-messages-of-solidarity-new-arrests-mark-anniversary-of-imamoglus-imprisonment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/44261\/","title":{"rendered":"Protests, messages of solidarity, new arrests mark anniversary of \u0130mamo\u011flu\u2019s imprisonment"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The first anniversary of \u0130stanbul Mayor Ekrem \u0130mamo\u011flu\u2019s imprisonment was marked on Thursday by messages of solidarity from European politicians, a student march in central \u0130stanbul and new arrests after an evening rally near City Hall, Turkish Minute<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n

\u0130mamo\u011flu, the jailed mayor of Turkey\u2019s largest city and the presidential candidate of the main opposition Republican People\u2019s Party (CHP), was detained on March 19, 2025, and later jailed pending trial in a corruption case, the charges in which he denies. Critics say the case is politically motivated and meant to sideline President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan\u2019s strongest rival, while the government says the judiciary is acting independently.<\/p>\n

Messages of support came from several European political figures and bodies on the anniversary.<\/p>\n

It has been one year since the arrest of the Mayor of Istanbul and opposition leader @imamoglu_int<\/a> . In Brussels, we mark this anniversary and send a clear message to the Turkish government: we are stronger and more determined than we were a year ago. We will not stop until\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/yYL1T8JsRk<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Dario Nardella (@DarioNardella) March 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Dario Nardella, a former mayor of Florence and now a member of the European Parliament, said in a social media post that Brussels was marking the anniversary and would not stop pressing until \u0130mamo\u011flu and other jailed activists were free.<\/p>\n

Today marks 1 year since @ekrem_imamoglu<\/a> lost his freedom, since Istanbul lost its Mayor. The worldwide battle between the rule of law and the rule by force is also unfolding in \ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddf7. The \ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa should not be silent before it, the @Europarl_EN<\/a> won’t be: Ekrem bey should not be in jail pic.twitter.com\/o4fIIlDwpS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Nacho S\u00e1nchez Amor (@NachoSAmor) March 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Nacho S\u00e1nchez Amor, the European Parliament\u2019s rapporteur on Turkey, said the European Union should not stay silent and that \u0130mamo\u011flu should not be in jail.<\/p>\n

One year after the unjust arrest of Ekrem \u0130mamo\u011flu, millions continue to stand up for democracy in #T\u00fcrkiye<\/a>. \ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddf7\u270a<\/p>\n

Attempts to silence opposition only strengthen the will of the people. We stand in solidarity with everyone fighting for justice and free democracy. #FreeImamoglu<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/f1KL9xPD0G<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 PES Group | European Committee of the Regions (@PES_CoR) March 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The Party of European Socialists group in the European Committee of the Regions said millions were still standing up for democracy in Turkey one year after what it called his unjust arrest.<\/p>\n

Students also took to the streets in \u0130stanbul on Thursday. University students gathered near \u0130stanbul University and marched to Beyaz\u0131t Square, where they issued a statement describing themselves as the generation that tore down police barricades during protests in March 2025.<\/p>\n

The students said young people had paid a heavy price over the past year through arrests, suspensions, investigations and house arrest. In language echoing the legacy of the 2013 Gezi Park protests, they said youths would continue resisting what they described as pressure from the government and called for stronger organized opposition.<\/p>\n

Following an evening gathering near \u0130stanbul City Hall to mark the anniversary of the mayor\u2019s detention, 35 people were taken into custody during a police intervention. Thirty-one were later released, while four were referred to court, two of whom were arrested and two released under judicial supervision.<\/p>\n

CHP \u0130stanbul provincial chairman \u00d6zg\u00fcr \u00c7elik criticized the detentions, saying some of those held were under 18 and had been kept in a police vehicle for hours without their families being notified. He called the response harsh and senseless and said the party would follow the legal process.<\/p>\n

\u0130mamo\u011flu remains behind bars and is now on trial in the biggest of several cases against him. Prosecutors are seeking a combined prison sentence of more than 2,000 years in a sweeping municipality corruption case. A separate challenge to his university degree could also prevent him from running for president under Turkey\u2019s constitution even if he beats the criminal charges.<\/p>\n