Turkey protests: Istanbul court orders release of arrested journalists

A court in Istanbul, Turkey, has ordered the release of eight arrested journalists. Meanwhile, protests continue across Turkey regarding the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. İmamoğlu is a popular opposition leader and a potential presidential candidate who could pose a challenge to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The journalists, including a photographer from Agence France-Presse (AFP) and several freelancers, were detained on Tuesday for "participating in illegal gatherings and marches." Demonstrations have erupted across Turkey since İmamoğlu's arrest on March 19, despite an official ban.

Media watchdog MLSA stated on Thursday that several journalists had been released from pre-trial detention following an appeal. A video posted by the organization on social media showed Bülent Kılıç, Kurtuluş Arı, Ali Onur Tosun, Hayri Tunç, and Gökhan Kam after their release from the Silivri prison. AFP photographer Yasin Akgül and journalist Zeynep Kuray were also reportedly released on Thursday.

Erol Önderoğlu, the Turkey representative for Reporters Without Borders (RSF), told Middle East Eye that while the organization welcomed the journalists' release, it was deeply concerned about the "impunity" enjoyed by security forces when targeting media workers. He stated: "Given the scale of the demonstrations, we are noting an aggressive and extremely worrying intervention in the media, which once again shows us that the right to report freely may not be a priority for the government and law enforcement."

Önderoğlu, who himself has faced imprisonment for his media work, stated that the arrest of the AFP journalist also proves that those working for international media do not have additional protection compared to local media. "The main goal seems to be to prevent the reporting, accounts, and images of police brutality from being reflected," he said.

Two journalists arrested in the city of Izmir remain in custody. Media freedom organizations frequently describe Turkey as one of the world's leading jailers of journalists. President Erdoğan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and previous Turkish governments have long been accused of suppressing press freedom, with the crackdown on critical journalists intensifying sharply following the 2016 coup attempt.

AFP on Tuesday called Akgül's arrest "unacceptable." CEO and Chairman Fabrice Fries said in a statement: "Yasin Akgül was not participating in the protest. As a journalist, he was covering one of the many demonstrations organized in the country since Wednesday, March 19. Since the beginning of the protests, he has taken a full 187 photos, each attesting to his work as a journalist."

The strong protests against İmamoğlu's arrest have sparked the largest street protests in Turkey in over a decade, with towns across the country flooded with demonstrators angered by what they see as an attempt to subvert democracy. The Republican People's Party (CHP) confirmed İmamoğlu as its candidate for the next presidential election on Sunday. Polls show the mayor has the potential to defeat Erdoğan, ending the Justice and Development Party's more than 23 years of rule.

The Interior Ministry stated that 1,879 people have been arrested since the start of the protests, and 150 police officers have been injured. Of those arrested, 260 have been jailed or detained, and over 950 have been released under judicial supervision, restricting their movements. Erdoğan said at a Justice and Development Party meeting on Thursday that the protests were an attempt by the Republican People's Party to "overthrow us through illegal means." He said: "The judiciary will hold accountable anyone who harms Turkey's economy and national well-being."

The Istanbul municipal council on Wednesday elected Nuri Aslan, also a member of the Republican People's Party, as interim mayor to replace İmamoğlu, alleviating concerns that the state would appoint an administrator. Further protests are planned for Thursday evening, while the Republican People's Party plans to hold a demonstration on Saturday. While many of those attending the protests are supporters of the Republican People's Party and İmamoğlu, they have attracted a broader crowd concerned about the ongoing economic crisis and Turkey's growing authoritarianism.

Students from Istanbul University told Middle East Eye that they are fighting for basic freedoms and a complete transformation of Turkey, not just a change of government. The current crisis was triggered after Istanbul University revoked İmamoğlu's degree, thus invalidating his right to run for president. Using the name "Student Solidarity," they stated: "The situation in Turkey is not a uniquely Turkish problem – people everywhere are losing their basic rights, and of course they will become politicized. This process may change, but the struggle must continue with the same determination."