Turkish authorities detain over a dozen individuals throughout opposition rally that was reduce quick because of violence

More than a dozen individuals have been detained over violence in opposition to an opposition election rally in Turkey’s jap metropolis of Erzurum over the weekend, the nation’s justice minister mentioned Monday. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu of the principle opposition Republican People’s Party, CHP, was talking atop a marketing campaign bus Sunday afternoon when a big group of roughly 200 protesters started throwing rocks. Imamoglu was campaigning on behalf of CHP chief and presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the principle opponent to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, days earlier than the May 14 presidential and parliamentary elections. He maintained that police and pro-Erdogan officers in Erzurum allowed the assault to go forward. “There are residents right here who’re injured, and also you police are simply standing by,” 

Imamoglu is heard saying in footage of the incident. “Erzurum governor, Erzurum mayor, I will probably be submitting a felony grievance in opposition to you.” The video later reveals Imamoglu being taken inside by his entourage and the bus driving off, with police later dispersing the group with water cannons. 

Seven individuals have been injured within the incident, in line with Erzurum Governor Okay Memis. Speaking on native information channel A Haber Monday morning, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag introduced that the investigation was ongoing, and 13 individuals had been detained to date.

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A supporter of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, demonstrates in entrance of Anadolu courthouse in Istanbul, Turkey, on Nov. 11, 2022. Over a dozen individuals have been detained throughout an opposition rally in Erzurum, Turkey. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra, File)

Kilicdaroglu posted a video on social media following Sunday’s incident the place he accused the mob accountable of being a “militarist coalition” that seeks to “scare individuals away from the poll field.” 

Speaking on a tv program later within the night, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu claimed the incident was “theater.” “They provoke such incidents, then they declare ‘they did this to us, they did that to us’ … They had put ahead a speech that was meant to agitate, to impress the group.” The contest is at present neck-and-neck. If Erdogan wins, it could be his third consecutive time period as president. However, opinion polls give a slight result in Kilicdaroglu.