Early this morning, Istanbul police detained 41 suspects for “insulting President Erdogan and his family, violating the ban on gatherings and demonstrations and disobeying a police officer“, the Anadolu Agency reported, BTA reports.
The action was carried out after the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office prepared a list of 41 people who participated in the protests in Saraçhane last night.
“I condemn those who use obscene language against our president, his late mother and his family. Such impudent and unpleasant language is only suitable for those who do not believe in the core values of our nation, democracy and the rule of law“, commented Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz. The head of the Presidential Communications Directorate, Fahrettin Altun, also condemned the use of insulting words against President Erdogan, saying that those who use them are “immoral and ignorant”.
Despite bans on gatherings and demonstrations in Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara, mass protests took place in these and other major Turkish cities on Friday evening. The main protest site in Istanbul is Saraçhane, where the Greater Istanbul Municipality is located.
The dissatisfaction of many is related to 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 arrested, and more than 100 police officers have been injured during the protests.