Seven journalists jailed in Istanbul crackdown as thousands continue to protest

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Istanbul: An Istanbul court has sent seven journalists, including an AFP photographer, to jail, covers protests over the arrest of opposition leader Akim Amoglo, as thousands of people go to the streets to oppose government crackdown.

After the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul, the protests broke out, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s central political rival, Akim Amoglo, in a crackdown, which has arrested more than 1,400 people, including 11 Turkish journalists.

Seven of them were sent on a remand by a court in Istanbul on Tuesday, among them AFP photographer Yasin Akgol made a strong criticism by a Paris -based news agency.

“His imprisonment is unacceptable, which is why I am asking you to intervene as soon as possible to release our journalist,” said the CEO and chairman of the agency in a letter to the Turkish presidency.

The court accused 35 -year -old Akgol and others of “participating in illegal rallies and marches”, although Freys said that the academy was “not part of the protest” but he was covering it only as a journalist.

Without reporters of the Media Freedom Group, Borders (RSF) described the decision as “notorious”, with its Turkish representative, with Aerol Ordglo, saying it “reflects a very serious Turkish situation”.

‘Can’t express yourself freely’

A large crowd has denied the protest ban on the daily streets after taking action against Amoglo on March 19, in which unrest in Turkey spreads and caused overnight clashes with security forces.

On Sunday, Amogloo was elected a large majority as a CHP candidate for the 2028 presidential run, observers said it was a basic primary that triggered the move against it.

Erdogan is notorious, facing the biggest protests in Turkey since the 2013 Gazi uprising in connection with the restoration of the Istanbul Park, which has condemned the gatherings as a “street terror”.

He said on Tuesday, “Those who spread terrorism on the streets and want to set fire to this country are nowhere to go anywhere. The path they have taken is a dead end.”

But when he spoke, thousands of students marched on Cecili District of Istanbul, whose mayor, Rescue Emara Sahan, was sent to jail in the same case, who was on his way to the municipal headquarters of the district.

They “government, resign!” The slogan of And “Taif’s resignation!” The flags and banners were hoisted, including the slogans, which were seen by a major deployment of the riots police, while the people in the apartments tied the utensils to show their approval.

Many people covered their faces with a scarf or mask and acknowledged that they were feared to identify the police.

“We can’t freely express it,” a student who told AFP, gave his name, said he, however, joined the protest “to defend democracy.”

In a separate protest, thousands of people also staged a rally in a demonstration for the seventh night, organized by the Republican People’s Party (CHP) of the Amoglovo in Sarchen District, where the Istanbul City Hall, which has been run by Amloglo since 2019.

For a prolonged preparation, CHP leader Ozgur Ozil has demanded the boycott of the well -known brands that he says he is affiliated with the authorities, including enough China espressolab and retailer D&R.

‘Dark Time for Democracy’

The riot police used water cannons, black pepper spray and rubber bullets against protesters, the Council of Europe condemned the use of “unpublished” force, while Human Rights Watch said it was a “dark time for democracy” in Turkey.

The United Nations also expressed danger of using Turkey’s widespread detention and its “ban on illegal blankets”, which urged authorities to investigate any illegal use of force.

“All these men have been detained for their rights practicing their rights,” said Liz Throzil, a UN rights office spokesman.

The 53 -year -old Amoglo is widely seen as the only politician who is able to defeat Erdogan, who has ruled the NATO member for a quarter of a century.

But Amogloo has now been stripped of his mayor and jailed for a graph and terrorism investigation, whose supporters condemn his “political uprising”.

Until Tuesday, police detained 1,418 suspects to participate in the “illegal demonstration”, Interior Minister Ali Yarlaikia wrote on the X, warning that there would be no “privileges” for “terrorizing roads”.

But Ozel said that the CHP is planning a wide rally in the weekend and told the crowd: “We do not reduce the number with arrests – more of us will be more.”