Turkey Detains Journalists Amid Widespread Protests

Turkey is experiencing a significant crackdown on dissent following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a prominent opposition figure from the Republican People's Party (CHP), on corruption charges widely viewed as politically motivated. In recent protests, at least 1,900 people, including multiple journalists, have been detained, with reports indicating that two journalists, Elif Bayburt and Nisa Suda Demirel, were among those arrested for covering the demonstrations. The Turkish government has justified these actions as necessary, claiming that the judiciary operates independently, despite widespread criticism from organizations like Reporters Without Borders, which condemns the ongoing detentions of journalists. The crackdown has also seen the deportation of foreign correspondents and restrictions on media outlets, including a ban on the Sozcu TV channel. Activists and opposition members continue to mobilize against what they describe as a growing authoritarian regime under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Protests are expected to persist, with calls for rallies across various cities in Turkey.