By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN human rights office on Tuesday expressed major concern after the detention of at least 92 people by the Turkish authorities over the past week, including Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, who has been charged with corruption and removed from office.
OHCHR spokesperson Liz Throssel said “These detentions triggered country-wide demonstrations that were met with unlawful blanket bans on protests in three cities,”
Over 1,000 people have been detained during the protests, among 9 media workers.
Türkiye has reportedly seen its largest street protests in more than a decade after the arrest of current Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main political rival, Mr. İmamoğlu.
Ms. Throssell said that all those detained “for the legitimate exercise of their rights must be released immediately and unconditionally.”
Those facing charges should be treated with dignity, she added, and their rights to due process while their rights to a fair trial – including access to a lawyer of their own choice – must be fully ensured.
Ms. Throssell underscored “We urge the authorities to ensure that the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly are guaranteed, in line with international law, and that credible allegations of unlawful use of force against protesters are promptly and thoroughly investigated”.
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