The leader of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Özgür Özel called for a boycott of media that does not cover the protests in the country, during a rally in front of the Istanbul Grand Municipality last night, the Haberler website reported, quoted by BTA.
“At this moment, when nearly one million people gathered in the square in Istanbul, we are closely monitoring anyone who does not broadcast this. Either you will see us or you will see the bottom“ Özel said during the rally in Saraçhane, accusing some of the media of not covering the protests. At the end of his speech, Özel called for a “complete boycott of those who refuse to see the square“.
Özel's call comes amid ongoing protests against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and several members of the opposition HDP. President Erdogan has condemned the protests, and Turkish authorities have imposed a ban on rallies, media statements, marches, sit-ins and leaflet distribution in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. Despite the bans imposed, protests in the country have not subsided, with over 1,100 suspects detained for illegal activities since March 19 and over 100 police officers injured.
As a member of the Council of Europe and a candidate for EU membership, Turkey must uphold democratic values, a European Commission spokesperson said today in response to questions related to the events surrounding the detention of the Istanbul mayor.
He noted that this includes the rights of elected officials and peaceful protesters. The detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and protesters raises the question of Turkey's implementation of long-established traditions, the spokesperson added.
We want Turkey to remain committed to Europe, which means implementing democratic rules and following fundamental principles, he said.
The spokesperson noted that in April last year, the European Council adopted conclusions on the gradual resumption of dialogue with Ankara on many issues. He did not specify whether recent events might influence this approach, but indicated that the EU was closely monitoring the situation.