site.btaTurkish Police Detain 41 in Istanbul for Insulting President Erdogan

Early on Tuesday morning, police in Istanbul detained a total of 41 suspects for "insulting President Erdogan and his family, violating the ban on gatherings and demonstrations, and disobeying a law enforcement officer," the Anadolu Agency reported. 

The police action was carried out after the Istanbul Prosecutor General's Office drew up a list of 41 suspects involved in last night's protests in Sarachane. 

"I condemn those who use obscene language against our president, his late mother and his family. Such insolent and unpleasant language only suits those who do not believe in the common values of our nation, democracy and the rule of law," said Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz. The head of the Turkish presidency's communications directorate, Fahrettin Altun, also condemned the use of insulting words against President Erdogan, saying that the people who used them were "immoral and ignorant".  

On Monday night, despite bans on gatherings and demonstrations in place in Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara, for the sixth night in a row, multi-thousand strong protests were held in these and other major cities in Turkiye. The main centre of protest in Istanbul remains Sarachane, where the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality is located.

The discontent of many people was caused by the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and members of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). Since March 19, more than 1,100 people, including journalists, have been detained and more than 100 police officers injured as a result of the protests.