site.btaThousands Gather in Support of Investigated Istanbul Mayor, Police Use Tear Gas

Thousands of people, including the Ankara Mayor, supported the investigated Istanbul Mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, who was summoned to appear in court Friday to testify. Since the early hours of the day, people have been gathering outside the Istanbul Courthouse with banners in their hands in support of the Mayor. The crowd chanted "We want justice, law, legality" and "We are [Republic of Turkiye's founding father Mustafa Kemal] Ataturk's soldiers".

Imamoglu, member of the main opposition Republican People's Party, was summoned to court today to testify in two investigations against him.

One is in relation to a statement he made against Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akin Gurlek. "Your mind is rotten and we will rip the mind that governs you out of the consciousness of this nation to save even your children," Turkish media quoted Mayor Imamoglu as saying.

The other investigation is in relation to a statement made on a television programme about the fire at the Kartalkaya Ski Resort in which 78 people died. Imamoglu accused the authorities of trying to cover up those responsible for the tragedy by replacing the expert witness. For these statements, Imamoglu was indicted on charges of "intimidation" and "targeting people who are fighting terrorism." 

The city-based organization of Turkiye's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party, called on supporters and associates to defend Imamoglu.

Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas has also arrived for the occasion and was among the crowd, the Haberler website reported. "We all hope that the days will come when the separation of powers will function fully and truly and according to the laws. That is why we are here today," Yavas was quoted as saying by the media outlet.

Imamoglu arrived at the courthouse accompanied by his wife and three lawyers. 

According to the correspondent of the opposition TV channel Halk TV, Ismail Saymaz, the Mayor has submitted his testimony in writing to the investigating prosecutor.

After the conclusion of the testimony procedure, police intervened with brute force and tear gas to disperse the crowd gathered outside the courthouse. According to the opposition newspaper Sozcu, there were injuries and dozens of people arrested.