Today, on September 8, a protest with the participation of thousands of people began in front of the office of the opposition "Cumhuriyet Halk" Party (CHP) in Istanbul. This was reported by the "Hurriyet" publication.
The discontent began after the party's former Istanbul branch leader, Özgür Çelik, was removed from his post. The population assessed this decision as unfair and took to the streets. In scattered videos, protesters were seen clashing with police, while others were banging pots and pans to express their displeasure.
After an appeal was made to the court regarding violations during the 2023 party congress, on September 2, the court found the congress results invalid and dismissed the branch leadership. Gürsel Tekin was appointed as the interim leader in his place.
The Governor of Istanbul imposed a three-day ban on protests, gatherings, and the distribution of leaflets. Despite this, people continue to gather in front of the party building.
Party leader Özgür Özel called for the court decision to be overturned, stating, "This is my final warning." Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, however, accused party members of disregarding the law.
So far, 14 individuals have been detained on suspicion of "inciting crimes" and "stirring hatred." This incident is the second major protest this year, following large-scale demonstrations across the country in May after the arrest of former mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
