Turkey: Mass Arrests and Media Crackdown Following Protests Over Jailed Istanbul Mayor

In Turkey, the aftermath of protests sparked by the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu continues to unfold. On Friday, Imamoglu reported the detention of his lawyer, Mehmet Pehlivan, calling the grounds "fictitious." Pehlivan represented Imamoglu during his recent court appearance on corruption charges. Turkish authorities have arrested nearly 1,900 individuals, including protesters and journalists, since the demonstrations began. The Turkish Journalists' Union (TGS) reported the detention of two more journalists, Nisa Sude Demirel and Elif Bayburt, in dawn raids for covering the protests. BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was also deported from Turkey on Thursday for reporting on the events. Turkey's Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) has imposed fines on four broadcasters—SZC TV, Tele1, Halk TV, and NOW TV—for their coverage of the arrests. SZC TV has been ordered to halt broadcasting for 10 days. Protests continue, with police dispersing demonstrators using water cannons, tear gas, and other methods in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. In Ankara, 3 of 71 people detained during protests were arrested.