BBC News
Thousands of people in Turkey have proven to be the seventh night of protests who have seen more than 1,400 people detained so far, including students, journalists and lawyers.
Night riots began last Wednesday when the mayor of the City of Ekrem Imamoglu – which is considered to be the main political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – was arrested for corruption charges.
Rights and UN groups condemned the arrests and use of force by police on protesters.
Imamoglu said the charges against him were politically motivated, which the Turkish president denied.
In an interview with a group of young people at the Ramadan fast meal in Ankara on Tuesday, President Erdogan called for patience and common sense due to what he described as “very sensitive days.”
He added that people who want to “turn this country into a chaos place have nowhere to go,” and protesters who started the “blind end”.
On Tuesday, thousands of students from many universities in Istanbul met at Maçka Park and then headed for şişli.
The Istanbul authorities forbade protests and closed some roads “to maintain public order” and “prevent any provocative actions that could happen”.
While the students marched through the Nisantassi district, they sang “Government, resignation!” and waved flags and banners as they watched by a large distribution of police.
Many students had faces covered with scarves or masks and admitted that they were afraid to identify the police.
The Turkish main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), said on Tuesday that its rally outside the Istanbul City Hall will be the last in a series of night gatherings – and to plan a rally in the city on Saturday.
“Are you ready for a big gathering at a big square in Istanbul on Saturday?” Ozgur Ozel said Crowds.
“To support Imamoglu, to opposed his arrest, to oppose the custody of each of our mayors. Ask for transparent, open, live broadcast trials, say that we had enough and we want the early elections.”
Since last Wednesday, the Turkish Minister of the Interior said that 1,418 protesters were detained after the day demonstration that the government considered “illegal”.
Social networks posting, but Yerlikaya wrote: “Although it is currently 979 suspects in custody, 478 people will be taken to court today.
“There will be no concessions to those trying to terrorize the streets, attack our national and moral values and our police officers.”
Otherwise, on Tuesday, seven journalists appeared in court, including the AFP newspaper Yasin Akgül, which covered the demonstrations.
AFP Chairman Fabrice Fries wrote a letter addressed to the Turkish Presidency, urging Erdogan to “intervene” to Akgul in prison, which he described as “unacceptable.”
“Yasin Akgül was not part of the protest,” Fries said. “As a journalist, he covered one of the many demonstrations organized in the country since Wednesday, March 19th.
“He has taken exactly 187 photographs from the beginning of the protest, and each witness is his work as a journalist.”
Imamglu was one of more than 100 people detained last week as part of an investigation. The other arrested were politicians, journalists and businessmen.
His arrest does not prevent his candidacy or election as president, but he will not be able to run if he is convicted of any of his charges against him.
The opposition mayor is considered to be one of Erdogan’s most attractive rivals, who has served as a duty in Turkey for 22 years and as a prime minister and president.
Erdogan’s mandate on duty should expire in 2028, and according to current rules he can no longer stand – but he could call the early elections or try to change the constitution to allow him to stay in power longer.
The Turkish Ministry of Justice criticized those who connected Erdogan with arrests and insisted on his judicial independence.
