ISTANBUL, March 29 – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday vowed that the country’s security forces will take firm action against anyone disrupting public order, accusing the opposition of provoking unrest in the wake of the recent arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.
Erdogan’s remarks come after tens of thousands of Turks took to the streets last week to protest Imamoglu’s detention, which has sparked widespread outrage and allegations of political persecution. Hundreds of demonstrators have reportedly been detained so far, including many university students.
Addressing the situation, Erdogan warned that Türkiye will not tolerate attempts to influence or radicalise young people, whom he said must be protected from groups or individuals he described as “enemies of the state.”
“We will not turn a blind eye to any act that disrupts public order. Our security forces will respond accordingly to anyone who conceals their identity, attacks the police, or interferes with public safety while officers are doing their duty,” he said.
“We cannot afford to lose even one of our youth to hostile elements working against the nation, even if they have been deceived or manipulated by fringe organisations.”
The protests continue to gain momentum, with opposition leaders denouncing Imamoglu’s arrest as politically motivated. The government, however, insists that legal proceedings against the mayor are based on allegations of corruption and abuse of power, not politics.
— AGENCY —
