Citizens on the metro react to İmamoğlu's detention

Turkey woke up to a shocking development on the morning of March 19. Ekrem İmamoğlu, the presidential candidate for the Republican People's Party (CHP) and Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), was detained following a police operation conducted at his home in the early hours. The operation was carried out around 06:00 with the participation of hundreds of riot police and special operations officers. After being detained, İmamoğlu was taken to the Istanbul Police Department on Vatan Avenue.

Following the detention of the İBB Mayor, an extraordinary security situation unfolded in Istanbul. Police leave was canceled across the city. Several major arteries in Istanbul were closed to traffic. In particular, roads leading to Vatan Avenue were blocked off by security forces using barriers.

METRO STATIONS CLOSED

Extraordinary measures were also taken in urban transportation following the detention operation in Istanbul. Many metro stations were closed starting from the morning hours. With the cancellation of services, serious disruptions occurred in transportation throughout the city.

Meanwhile, Borsa Istanbul began the day with a sharp decline. During the first hours of trading, the circuit breaker system was activated, and transactions were temporarily halted. Uncertainty and anxiety dominated the markets.

FIRST STATEMENT FROM CHP

CHP Group Deputy Chairman Gökhan Günaydın announced on his social media account that İmamoğlu had been detained. Günaydın stated, "The country's democracy and the will of the ballot box are being usurped. Our Mayor Ekrem was detained in a raid on his home in the early hours. We will not remain silent in the face of this lawlessness."

EKREM İMAMOĞLU: 'I WILL NOT BE DAUNTED'

Just before being detained, Ekrem İmamoğlu recorded a short video with his mobile phone to address the public. While preparing, he said the following in the video:

"I say this with sadness; a handful of minds trying to usurp the will of our nation have used my dear police officers, the country's security forces, as tools for this evil, piling them up at the door of the home of 16 million Istanbulites. We are facing great tyranny, but I want you to know that I will not be daunted. I love you all very much; I entrust myself to my nation. I will stand tall, let my entire nation know. I will fight against that person and the mind that uses this process as a tool."

PROTEST ON THE METRO

İmamoğlu's detention was met with reaction not only in political circles but also on the streets. Before metro services were halted, a citizen voiced their reaction to İmamoğlu's detention out loud during a commute.

News Source: 12punto