Thousands of Istanbul residents flocked to Saraçhane to protest the detention of IMM Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Citizens who encountered police barriers there were at times met with gas intervention.
Interior Minister Yerlikaya announced in a statement on his social media account that 6 police officers were injured during the protests.
Yerlikaya made the following statement:
"6 of our police officers were injured in the protests held this evening in Saraçhane, Istanbul.
Our heroic police officers, who are the guarantors of our country's peace and security, are resisting provocations with great discernment, patience, and common sense; they are displaying an exemplary stance on how social events should be managed.
Our Governor, our Police Chief, and our police officers are on duty for the peace and security of our people, and they will continue to be so.
I offer my best wishes for a speedy recovery to our injured police officers."
6 of our police officers were injured in the protests held this evening in Saraçhane, Istanbul.
— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) March 20, 2025
Our heroic police officers, who are the guarantors of our country's peace and security, are resisting provocations with great discernment, patience, and common sense; they are displaying an exemplary stance on how social events should be managed…
"IT IS IRRESPONSIBILITY"
Following his statement regarding the injured police officers, Interior Minister Yerlikaya made a new post and used the following expressions:
Calling the public to the streets and squares is, to put it mildly, "irresponsibility."
No one can pay the price for stirring up the streets; not politically, not legally, nor conscientiously!
I am calling out to the protesters: Do not fall for the games of the provocateurs who have mixed in among you!
Our police officers are on duty 24/7 to ensure the peace and security of our Noble Nation.
Calling the public to the streets and squares is, to put it mildly, "irresponsibility."
— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) March 20, 2025
No one can pay the price for stirring up the streets; not politically, not legally, nor conscientiously!
I am calling out to the protesters: Do not fall for the games of the provocateurs who have mixed in among you!
Our police officers are on duty 24/7 to ensure the peace and security of our Noble Nation…
News Source: 12punto
